Singapore: Nok Air agreed to acquire 15 B737 family single-aisle jets worth US$1.45 billion from the US plane maker Boeing to support its growth strategy.
New jets for Nok Air: a computerrendered B737 MAX in Nok Air’s livery is in the foreground and the B737-800 in the background.
The Thai budget airline will work with Boeing to finalise details to turn the ''commitment'', which was announced at the Singapore Airshow last Wednesday, into an order contract.
The agreement for eight next generation 737-800s and seven 737 MAX 8s will mark the airline’s first direct order with Boeing, as Nok Air traditionally leases aircraft.
SET-listed Nok Air operates a fleet of 14 relatively new B737-800s, each with 189 seats in a one-class configuration, sourced from several international lessors.
Nok Air chief executive Patee Sarasin described the commitment as a major step in its growth strategy.
''The B737 is the backbone of our fleet and will continue to be in the future,'' said Mr Patee.
Both Nok Air and Boeing did not say when a firm order could be finalised, nor have delivery dates been announced.
Nok Air will be the first airline in Thailand to operate the 737 MAX, the latest version of the best-selling family of B737 jets now under development, boasting better fuel efficiency and improved capabilities.
These new Boeing 737 airplanes are expected to replace leased aircraft and provide incremental capacities to support Nok Air’s expanding frequencies and route networks.
Nok Air is predominantly a domestic carrier and only operates international services to neighbouring Myanmar.
But it intends to add more short-haul international routes and expand into the medium/long-haul sector in the second half of this year through a new 51:49 joint venture carrier with Singapore Airlines’ long-haul low-cost carrier Scoot, known as NokScoot.