Norwegian commits to 222 aircraft; becomes MAX European launch customer

Norwegian Air Shuttle (DY) has signed agreements with Airbus and Boeing for a total of 222 new aircraft.

The Boeing firm order includes 100 CFM Leap-1B-powered 737 MAX and 22 737-800 aircraft, valued at $11.4 billion at list prices. The LCC becomes the European launch customer for the MAX. Boeing said this was its largest-ever order from a European carrier.

The Airbus firm order is for 100 A320neos.

The firm orders have total value of approximately NOK127 billion ($21.6 billion) at list prices, Norwegian said. The aircraft purchase is supported by the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im) and European Export Credit Agencies, the airline said.

The agreement also includes additional purchase rights for 100 737 MAX8 and 50 A320neos.

Deliveries will begin in 2016. DY did not announce the engine selection for the neos, for which the options are the Pratt & Whitney PW1100G and CFM International Leap-1A engines.

“Today is a historic day for Norwegian. The order is the largest ever in European aviation history and marks a major milestone in the company’s 10-year history. We have secured our fleet renewal for years to come and are very pleased with the agreements with both Airbus and Boeing,” said DY CEO Bjorn Kjos. “Norwegian has now reached a size where we will benefit from having two suppliers, both in terms of ensuring adequate flight capacity, flexibility and competition between two manufacturers,” he said.

DY operates a fleet of 62 737s (48 -800s and 14 -300s) on about 300 routes to more than 100 destinations across Europe and into North Africa and the Middle East. It carried 15.7 million passengers in 2011, an increase of 19.8% compared to the previous year.

Norwegian said Wednesday’s transaction lifts its order book to 150 purchase rights and 277 aircraft for future delivery, including 55 previously ordered 737-800s and a firm order for six Boeing 787-8s .