Indonesia's Lion Air has signed a preliminary agreement for up to 60 Boeing 737s, although the low-cost carrier has not confirmed how many firm orders it will place. The agreement indicates that Lion Air will at least purchase the US manufacturer's 737-800 aircraft. However, the deal also includes an exchange option for Boeing's planned 737-900X, a longer-range version of the -900 model. Boeing says details are still being negotiated, and that the preliminary agreement does not guarantee the -900X will go into production. However, it notes that the Lion Air deal – when combined with the 25 May contract with Singapore Aircraft Leasing Enterprise for 40 737s, which also included -900X conversions – now gives Boeing's management the impetus to approach the company's board "soon" for launch approval.
Source: Flight International
