Lion Air launch customer of Boeing 737 MAX 9; confirms largest ever commercial plane order for Boeing

Lion Air, Indonesia's largest private airline, has placed on US airframer Boeing, the largest commercial airplane order ever in Boeing's history by both dollar value and total number of airplanes.

The carrier finalised a firm order for 201 737 MAXs and 29 Next-Generation 737-900ERs (extended range), worth $22.4 billion at list prices, which was first announced last November in Indonesia.

The agreement also includes optional purchase rights for an additional 150 airplanes.

The carrier currently operates a fleet of 66 Boeing 737s dominated by 57 Boeing 737-900ERs in an all economy 213 seat configuration.

The 737 MAX is a new engine variant of the venerable Boeing 737NG (Next Generation) i.e. the -700, -800, and the -900ER, developed in response to the Airbus A320neo.

Lion Air will become the launch customer for the 737 MAX 9.