Norwegian Air Shuttle has put its name down for another 30 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, with the US planemaker announcing the order earlier this morning. The carrier, which flies the type both under its own Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) and that of its Swedish subsidiary, now has 80 737 MAX jets on order.
The deal marks a key milestone in the Scandinavian carrier’s relationship with 
Boeing, with there having been something of an order drought between the two in recent years. Indeed, today’s announcement marks the first time since 2017 that Norwegian has placed a direct order with Boeing, as it looks to grow its European operations. Of course, the carrier was notable for being the first in Europe to fly the MAX.
Another Order In The Books
Hot on the heels of its announcement that Turkish Airlines had ordered up to 75 787 Dreamliners and signalled its intent to buy another 150 737 MAX aircraft, Boeing’s Friday morning has gone from good to better with the announcement of a deal with the Norwegian Group. Indeed, the Scandinavian carrier has shaken hands with the US planemaker on a deal for 30 examples of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 twinjet.
This, the American manufacturer explains, “represents the group’s first direct Boeing order since 2017,” and takes Norwegian’s total order book for the type to 80 aircraft. The other 50 were firmed back in 2022 following a restructuring of the Oslo-based carrier’s order book. Geir Karlsen, who currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Norwegian, welcomed the order, and he went on to explain that:
“This milestone aircraft order is on attractive terms and secures our fleet growth in a way that supports our planned growth and sustainability targets. By exercising the options and adjusting the delivery profile, we maintain flexibility while reinforcing our commitment to operating one of the most modern and fuel-efficient fleets in Europe.”
Norwegian Is Already A Big Fan Of The Boeing 737 MAX
While, until today, it had been around eight years since the Norwegian Group had placed a direct order with Boeing, that isn’t to say that the carrier doesn’t have a considerable pedigree when it comes to operating the 737 MAX. Indeed, Norwegian made history back in 2017 by becoming the first European carrier to take delivery of the type, and was also the first airline to fly the type between Europe and the US.
Today, both Norwegian Air Shuttle itself and its Swedish subsidiary, Norwegian Air Sweden, fly the Boeing 737 MAX 8, with fleet data made available by aeroLOPA showing that the Scandinavian carrier favors an all-economy seating configuration for the type. This consists of 189 seats, with a 29/30-inch pitch.
While Norwegian has seen its fair share of struggles in recent years, including having to cease transatlantic operations and move to a short-haul model, the order marks a step in the right direction. On this front, Brad McMullen, Boeing’s SVP of Commercial Sales & Marketing, said that “Norwegian’s performance over the past few years has demonstrated the strength of [its] network, business model, and strategy.”
The Order Will Foster Growth While Boosting Sustainability Credentials
As alluded to by Karlsen, adding Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft to the fleet, which also features older 737-800s, will help to boost its sustainability credentials. Indeed, the Norwegian CEO notes that they “will not only lower emissions but also provide our customers with an even better travel experience.”
Boeing’s Brad McMullen also emphasized the importance of the order as far as growing Norwegian’s footprint is concerned. Indeed, he said that “today’s agreement for an additional 30 737 MAX 8s will support their ambition to be the airline of choice in Scandinavia, providing flexibility to expand across Europe and beyond.” The latter point is particularly interesting, as it hints at intercontinental network growth.
As far as delivery timelines are concerned, a separate statement issued earlier today by Norwegian Air Shuttle confirmed that these aircraft will be in its fleet by 2031, paving the way for efficient fleet and network growth. The carrier concludes that “the updated delivery schedule ensures an efficient and balanced renewal of Norwegian’s fleet, closely aligned with lease expiries and market developments.”
