The Board of Directors of IAG (International Airlines Group) approved the order of 50 Boeing 737 MAX jets as well as the conversion of 37 Airbus A320neo options into firm orders this week.
Owner of British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Vueling and Level, IAG had signed an agreement with Boeing in May to receive 25 737 MAX 8-200 and 25 737 MAX 10 models, in addition to 100 options, but that depended on approval by its shareholders.
“We welcome today’s decision by IAG’s shareholders to approve a firm order for 50 737-8-200s and 737-10s, with options for 100 more, and we look forward to working with IAG on reintroducing the 737 in to the Group’s fleets,” said Ihssane Mounir, Boeing’s senior vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing.
59 new A320neo
Regarding Airbus, the IAG considerably expanded its original order of 22 A320neo family jets (17 A320neos and 5 A321neos), adding 37 aircraft and which brought the final agreement to 59 jets.
“IAG operates Airbus aircraft extensively in its fleet making it one of the largest Airbus customers globally. These latest generation aircraft will be a key part of IAG’s plan to achieve net zero emissions by 2050”, said Christian Scherer, Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Airbus International.
The IAG has not yet determined how many of these aircraft will be shared with each of its airlines. The group has a fleet of 630 aircraft, dominated by the A320 family, which represents 60% of the total.
As for the Boeing 737, it is about the return of the aircraft to the group. British Airways operated the 737-400 version until 2015, although units remained in flight with South Africa’s Comair, which sported the UK carrier’s livery until it went bankrupt this year.
