LuxAir Orders The Boeing 737-10

Europe’s LuxAir has announced plans to purchase the Boeing 737-10 as it continues to develop its fleet with next-generation types.

The purchase, unveiled on Day 1 of the 2024 Farnborough Airshow, includes just 4 aircraft, with LuxAir selecting the largest and highest-capacity 737-10.

As part of the purchase, the airline says there are two firm orders with options for two additional 737-10s should they wish to activate these later.

Boeing’s 737-10 has proved to be an optimal choice for airlines looking to boost their capacity across single-aisle operations and not selecting the alternative of the A321neo series at Airbus.

LuxAir says the aircraft purchase is a natural progression of their continued commitment to the MAX, which stems from previous orders for the 737-7 and 737-8. These variants are considered the more modest option for airlines seeking to bolster their fleet.

The addition of the 737 MAX is said to have many associated benefits, with the Luxembourg-based carrier highlighting a 50% smaller noise footprint for landings at its home airport.

Furthermore, the airline cites that the aircraft will be instrumental in lowering overall fuel use and emissions and, thus, operating costs. This will keep the airline aligned with sustainability goals.

The purchase of the 737-10 specifically boosts Boeing’s backlog for the variant that is among the many within the MAX series struggling to be certified.

Moreover, the 737-10s certification timeline has been hard to lock down as the planemaker has faced battles concerning several elements of its business.

The 737-10 joins the smallest variant of the 737-7, which is the two MAX planes that remain to be cleared to fly with passengers. On a larger scale, Boeing also battles certification of its 777X; however, that is a plane well out of their reach for LuxAir.

Once Boeing can deliver the 737-10s to the company, LuxAir plans to offer passengers a seat pitch of 30 inches at a minimum. With this seat pitch in mind, the aircraft can be configured to fly up to 213 passengers on routes stretching to roughly 5,740km or 3,100 natural miles.

The aircraft will, therefore, be optimally deployed to serve markets that require the range and capacity capabilities of this aircraft.

LuxAir finally highlights the addition of other previously ordered MAX variants, which will offer optimal flexibility for usage across existing and prospective markets once all are delivered and operational.