Luxair, the de facto flag carrier of Luxembourg, has ordered four Boeing 737 MAX-7 aircraft, becoming the launch customer of the type in Europe.
The airline’s latest order increases its total Boeing 737 MAX order book to eight aircraft, as in March 2023, Luxair ordered four 737 MAX-8 aircraft. It is scheduled to take delivery of two leased 737 MAX-8s in the next few weeks, marking its first delivery of the type.
Boeing is still in the process of certifying the 737 MAX-7, with the manufacturer expecting the United States (US) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to certify the type by the end of the year.
“We continue to invest in Luxair’s growth and this agreement for four Boeing 737-7 is an extra step towards securing a long-term future for our national airline. This type of aircraft is a perfect match for Luxair and will meet the requirements of the market,” said Giles Feith, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Luxair. Feith added that the aircraft, which seats 160 passengers, will enable the airline to be flexible across its flight network and reduce fuel consumption compared to its current fleet.
Currently, the Luxembourgish airline operates eight Boeing 737 NextGeneration (NG), the predecessor generation of the MAX aircraft: four 737-700 and four 737-800s. In addition, it also has 11 De Havilland Canada DHC-8 Q400 turboprops and two Embraer E190 jets for smaller regional routes.
“We are delighted that Luxair has chosen to build upon its 737-8 order by selecting the 737-7 and in doing so becoming the launch customer in Europe for the airplane type,” added Brad McMullen, the Senior Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing at Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA). McMullen echoed Feith’s statements, saying that the 737 MAX-7’s size perfectly suits Luxair’s network and fleet, with the aircraft seamlessly integrating into the carrier’s operations due to the fleet commonality of other Boeing 737 models.
