Copa Airlines (Panama City) has entered into a historic landmark order with Boeing (Chicago, Seattle and Charleston) for 61 Boeing 737 MAX 8 and MAX 9 airliners (previously listed as unidentified). Boeing issued this statement and image:

Panama President Juan Carlos Varela Rodriguez and U.S. President Barack Obama witnessed a historic agreement in which Copa Airlines and Boeing announced an order for 61 737 MAX 8 and MAX 9 airplanes. The order, valued at $6.6 billion at list prices, is the largest commercial transaction ever between a Panamanian and a U.S.-based company.

The signing ceremony took place in Panama City as leaders from throughout the Western Hemisphere gathered for the seventh Summit of the Americas.

Presidents Varela and Obama were on hand as Copa Chairman Stanley Motta, Copa CEO Pedro Heilbron and Boeing Chairman and CEO Jim McNerney signed documents recognizing the agreement. The airplanes were previously attributed to an unidentified customer on Boeing’s Orders and Deliveries web site.

Copa Airlines will use the airplanes to replace existing airplanes and support the carrier’s plans for strategic growth. Copa will be the first airline in the region to operate the 737 MAX 9 on deep South American routes. The 737 MAX 9’s range and passenger comfort are ideally suited to Copa’s long-haul route network.

The 737 MAX also features the Boeing Sky Interior, which Copa helped launch in Latin America on its Next-Generation 737 fleet. The sleek interior boasts modern lines, a spacious cabin with more headroom and LED lighting that offers vibrant color options.

To date, the 737 MAX has accumulated 2,715 orders from 57 customers around the world.

Image: Boeing.

Copa Airlines aircraft slide show: