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03 August 2012| last updated at 06:21PM

Singapore's SilkAir places $4.9 bln order with Boeing



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SINGAPORE: SilkAir, the regional wing of Singapore Airlines (SIA), said Friday it would buy 54 new Boeing planes in a deal worth $4.9 billion, with an option to buy a further 14 aircraft.

 

The airline said the order is the largest in its history and “remains  subject to the negotiation of a final purchase agreement”.
 
SilkAir said the firm orders will cover 23 Boeing 737-800s and 31 Boeing  737 MAX 8s.
 
The deal for the 54 aircraft is worth $4.9 billion based on Boeing’s  current list prices.
 
The B737-800 is the best selling variant of Boeing’s popular next  generation family of single-aisle aircraft, and the 737 MAX is currently in  development.
 
“Deliveries are due to begin in 2014 and continue to 2021, by which time  the airline’s fleet will have more than doubled in size,” the carrier said.
 
SilkAir currently operates 21 Airbus A319s and A320s, with three more A320s  due for delivery by the end of 2013. It said the new orders will cater for both  growth and fleet renewal.
 
“We continue to see very strong growth within the region and these new  aircraft will position SilkAir well,” said SilkAir chief executive Marvin Tan.
 
“They will enable us to spread our wings to even more destinations and  increase capacity on existing routes, contributing to the overall SIA Group  network,” he added.
 
“The selection of the B737 follows detailed evaluations and extensive  negotiations with both Airbus and Boeing.”
 
SilkAir is a wholly owned subsidiary of SIA and flies to popular holiday  destinations in the Asia Pacific region.
 
SIA also has a long-haul budget carrier called Scoot and owns nearly 33  percent in low-cost carrier Tiger Airways. -- AFP

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