Garuda Indonesia (Jakarta) and Boeing (Chicago and Seattle) announced an order for 50 737 MAX 8s, valued at $4.9 billion at current list prices. The flag carrier of Indonesia will purchase 46 737 MAX 8s and will convert existing orders for four Next-Generation 737-800s to 737 MAX 8s. The order was previously accounted for on Boeing’s Orders and Deliveries Web site, attributed to an unidentified customer.

Garuda Indonesia currently operates 77 Boeing 737s. The new order gives the airline the flexibility to grow and to update its fleet as the market demands.

According to Boeing, “The 737 MAX incorporates the latest technology CFM International LEAP-1B engines, Advanced Technology winglets and other improvements to deliver the highest efficiency, reliability and passenger comfort in the single-aisle market. The 737 MAX will be 14 percent more fuel-efficient than today’s most efficient Next-Generation 737s – and 20 percent better than the original Next-Generation 737s when they first entered service. The 737 MAX 8 will have an 8 percent per seat operating cost advantage over the A320neo.”

The total number of 737 MAX orders to date is 2,295 airplanes from 47 customers worldwide.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Garuda Indonesia has been a long time Boeing 737 operator. Garuda Indonesia’s Boeing 737-8U3 WL PK-GMA (msn 30151) prepares to taxi from the gate at Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia.

Garuda Indonesia Aircraft Slide Show:

Garuda Indonesia: