2023-06-21 11:41:00
Only three major airlines have so far ordered the smallest Boeing 737 Max. Luxair becomes a launch customer in Europe, driving forward its expansion plans.
The order book for the smallest Boeing 737 Max is well filled. A total of 286 orders have been received. The most important market is North America, because so far all orders have come from Southwest, Westjet and Allegiant and thus from the USA and Canada.
No longer. Because Luxair ordered four Boeing 737 Max 7 at the Paris Air Show. This makes the airline of the Grand Duchy the first customer of the smallest Max version in Europe. CEO Gilles Feith emphasized in a statement that this step is a further investment in the airline’s growth.
Luxair focuses on growth
Growth is the airline’s motto this year. In March, Luxair announced that it would lease two Boeing 737-8s for four years and at the same time firmly order two more aircraft. Just six weeks later, the Grand Duchy’s national airline followed suit with the purchase of two more 737 Max 8s. The four jets are scheduled to join the fleet in 2026 and 2027. In a first step, they will primarily replace the smaller Boeing 737-700s at Luxair, which are getting on in years.
However, it is currently unclear when Boeing will deliver the four 737 Max 7s to Luxair. The model is still not approved. Boeing is still hoping for the green light from the American aviation authority FAA by the end of the year, but recently curbed expectations itself. According to the aircraft manufacturer, the process is very complex due to new documentation requirements.
Target is second base
With the capacity expansion, Luxair is getting closer to the goal of a second base in France. Luxair boss can imagine Lorraine Aéroport near Metz, France, as a second base. The airport is only around 100 kilometers by road south of Luxembourg, but in Feith’s eyes it is underserved.
The airline has applied for traffic rights at the airport. The French authorities have not yet responded. Feith explained that his airline needed more aircraft for the second base – which he has now ordered.
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