CDB Aviation, an Ireland-based aircraft lessor that is a subsidiary of the China Development Bank, has entered into purchase agreements for 50 Boeing 737 MAX 8s.

50 Boeing 737 MAXs

On September 18, CDB Aviation said that it signed purchase agreements with Boeing for 50 737 MAX 8 aircraft.

The lessor made the order to optimize its fleet structure and increase the proportion of next-generation aircraft in its fleet, with the 737 MAX 8 offering high fuel efficiency and wide market penetration among its airline customers.

Boeing 737 MAX 8

Photo: Marco Menezes | Shutterstock

According to the announcement, Boeing should deliver the 50 aircraft between 2028 and 2031.

The Boeing order followed CDB Aviation’s statement that it had signed an order for 80 Airbus A320neo family aircraft on September 11.

Airbus should deliver the 80 A320neo family aircraft from 2030 to 2032, with the lessor not disclosing the exact types of the aircraft it had purchased.

Growing its 737 MAX 8 fleet

According to ch-aviation data, CDB Aviation already manages a substantial fleet of 737 MAX 8s, with the aircraft lessor owning 39 aircraft of the type.

The site’s fleet records showed that the Chinese aircraft lessor has another 19 737 MAX 8s on order. In addition, it has orders for 39 A320neo family aircraft, including 11 A320neo, 26 A321neo, and two A321XLRs.

United Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 (N37305) at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

Photo: Robin Guess | Shutterstock

Currently, the lessor owns and manages 76 A320neo, 35 A321neo, and seven A321LRs.

CDB Aviation has six 737 MAX 8 customers, which have taken delivery of aircraft of the type from the aircraft lessor:

  • GOL (seven 737 MAX 8s)
  • Oman Air (five)
  • Smartlynx Malta (two)
  • SpiceJet (three)
  • United Airlines (15)
  • WestJet (7)

Slow business

With Boeing still being bogged down by its latest crisis that began with the Alaska Airlines flight AS1282 Boeing 7337 MAX 9 door plug blowout in January, which has only worsened with the latest labor strikes from its unions in Washington, the United States, orders have been few and far between during the year when compared to its main rival, Airbus.

Close-up picture of a Boeing 737 MAX 9 cockpit shutterstock_2438471933

Photo: Unaccompanied Media | Shutterstock

According to the manufacturer’s orders and deliveries website, customers have ordered 178 737 MAXs year-to-date (YTD) as of August 31, which includes American Airlines’ order for 85 aircraft of the type, as well as its sales effort during the Farnborough International Airshow in July.

During the event, the manufacturer booked two orders for the 737 MAX: Luxair signed an agreement for four 737 MAX (two options), while Macquarie AirFinance bought 20 737 MAX 8s.

In July, Aviation Capital Group purchased 35 aircraft of the type. Two more 737 MAX aircraft were added to the manufacturer’s backlog in during the month, with the order being attributed to an unidentified customer.

In August and September, the only other 737 MAX order was from Israel’s EL AL, which purchased 20 aircraft of the type. The Israeli airline also signed up for an additional 11 options for the 737 MAX.

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