World’s first Boeing 737 MAX 9 set to go into service with Thai Lion Air
Boeing and the Lion Air Group have celebrated the recent delivery of the very first 737 MAX 9 to the airline industry.
The aircraft will go into service with Thai Lion Air, where its added capacity will help the airline launch several international routes, Boeing announced.
“The 737 MAX 9 is a perfect fit for our growing business in Thailand,” said Captain Darsito Hendro Seputro, CEO and chairman 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,” he added.
Indonesia-based Lion Air Group is the launch customer for the MAX 9.
It was also the first operator to put the MAX 8 into service, and has announced a commitment for 50 MAX 10s.
The group also has an additional 200 737 MAXs on order and is one of the world’s largest operators of the 737.
“The Lion Air Group is the perfect example of how the 737 MAX family provides a common fleet solution across the single-aisle spectrum,” said Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and CEO Kevin McAllister.
“Not only will Lion Air Group benefit from the MAX’s range and capacity, they will enjoy the best economics and reliability in the industry,” he added.
The 737 MAX is the fastest-selling airplane in Boeing history, accumulating more than 4,300 orders from 95 customers worldwide.
