EgyptAir to revamp fleet with $864 million order for nine Boeing 737-800s

EgyptAir has ordered nine Boeing 737-800s, as it seeks to overcome slumping tourist numbers and the impact of a fatal jetliner crash in May.

The order, valued at $864 million, was previously attributed to an unidentified customer on Boeing’s Orders & Deliveries website.

According to the terms of the contract, eight of these airplanes will be financed by Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE), a firm specialized in planes leasing, financing and plane management services.

“The addition of several more of this airplane will definitely enable us to continue with our plans to introduce modern, efficient aircraft on our short-to-medium-haul destination network,” says Safwat Al Musallam, chief executive of EgyptAir’s holding company.

Under consideration are the re-engined Boeing 737 Max and Airbus Group SE A320neo narrow-bodies, the twin-aisle 787 and A330, and the Bombardier Inc. C Series and Embraer SA 195 regional jets, Al Musallam said, adding that EgyptAir must take steps to move on from the May 19 crash.

“We want to focus on the future,” he said. “What happened has happened. We are targeting better service and better aircraft.”

The carrier already operates 20 737-800s as part of a mixed Airbus and Boeing fleet of 53 aircraft.

The first plane is expected to be delivered in December 2016.

EgyptAir aims to issue a request for proposals for the new planes next month and to expand the fleet to 105 aircraft by 2021 and 150 by 2025, Al Musallam added.