Air Algerie has given Boeing its second order of the Paris Air Show, with day 2 looking, to date a minimum of, like a a lot better day for the US planemaker. The airline ordered eight 737 MAX of the -9 variety, alongside a pair of 737 BCF (Boeing Converted Freighters). The MAX order is firm, and has been on Boeing’s orderbook for a while as an ‘unidentified customer,’ while the BCF commitment is currently a memorandum of understanding (MoU).
The announcement saw the CEO of Air Algerie, Yacine Benslimane, take to the rostrum, flanked by Boeing Industrial Airplanes CEO Stan Deal and Stephanie Pope, President and CEO of Boeing Global Services. Benslimane preferred to talk French through the press conference, but media were supplied with the next translation of his comments,
“The Chief Executive Officer of Air Algerie would really like to thank the Boeing team and could be very glad to be here and to take part in this announcement. He would really like to emphasize the proven fact that the announcement that’s going to follow is a continuation of the nice work that the 2 teams have done together over the past a long time. The work between Boeing and Air Algerie dates back to the Seventies and the acquisition of aircraft in addition to maintenance work.”
Photo: Tom Boon / Easy Flying
Stan Deal noted that, at present, Air Algerie has one among the biggest fleets of 737 NG in Africa; indeed, it currently has 31 NGs in its fleet, alongside one 737-800 BCF. Deal noted,
“On this world where there’s escalation and pressure financially, to usher in latest efficiency with the 737 MAX and replace over time the following generation fleet is sensible. This product brings unprecedented fuel burn, which they will take to the underside line and help proceed to grow.”
Why the MAX 9?
The selection of the MAX 9 is notable for Air Algerie. This variant is a much lower-selling model than the favored 737 MAX 8 by some margin. At present, the orders for the MAX 8 stand at over 2,300 units, whereas the MAX 9 has clocked just over 300. It’s a bigger airplane, with a fuselage prolonged by almost 11 feet (3 meters) to accommodate as much as 193 passengers, compared with the MAX 8’s maximum of 178.
Photo: Boeing
Despite this higher capability, the MAX 9 maintains the identical range because the MAX 8, due to the addition of an auxiliary fuel tank. Deal added that the selection of the MAX 9 was according to the airline’s future goals of flying into Europe, commenting,
“The make chosen, the 737 MAX 9 model, is an prolonged range vehicle to achieve into Europe, which I do know is an element of the long-term plan.”
What about widebodies?
With a goal to expand its network into latest regions and destinations, the query must be asked – will Air Algerie be ordering latest widebodies through the show? At present, the airline only has a fleet of eight A330-200s, with a median age of 14.6 years. These are the one Airbus aircraft still within the fleet, even though it does have orders in for five A330neos and a pair of A350-1000s. In response to a matter from Easy Flying, Benslimane commented (translated),
“All options are on the table. This isn’t part of the present deal, obviously, but all options are on the table, including widebody aircraft, within the developing perspectives of the airline.”