Lion Thai Air will fly the first Boeing 737 Max 9. Photo courtesy of Boeing
Boeing delivered its first 737 MAX 9 to launch customer Lion Air Group, also the first operator to put the MAX 8 into service. One of the world’s largest operators of 737s, Lion Air Group has a commitment for 50 MAX 10s in place as well.
The 737 MAX 9 is designed for a capacity of up to 220 passengers and a maximum range of 3,550 nm. The debut aircraft will join the fleet of Thai Lion Air.
“The 737 has been the backbone of our business since we began and we will use the added capacity the airplane provides to expand our network and start additional routes to Bangladesh, China and India,” said Thai Lion Air CEO Darsito Hendro Seputro.
The 737 MAX family is designed to offer performance with lower per-seat costs and an extended range that opens up new destinations in the single-aisle market for operators.
The 737 MAX is the fastest-selling airplane in Boeing history, accumulating more than 4,300 orders from 95 customers worldwide, while the 737 is the best-selling passenger jet in history.