Kuwait-based Aviation Lease and Finance Company (ALAFCO) has finalised an order for 20 additional Boeing 737 MAX 8s, doubling the lessor’s order book for the MAX variant. The deal, valued at $2.2bn, was previously announced as a commitment at the Paris Air Show in June.
Russian and United Arab Emirates representatives held preliminary talks at the Dubai Air Show on the possibility of joint production of a civil airliner in the UAE. The aircraft would be based on Russia’s single-aisle, twin-engined passenger jet, the Irkut MC 21-300, and would be capable of carrying up to 250 passengers. The two nations will create a working group to discuss the idea further which could include joint production of the airliner in the UAE.
Boeing has moved company veteran and 777X chief project engineer Terry Beezhold to a team looking at the development of the New Mid-Market Airplane, CNN reports. The US manufacturer has yet to approve the launch of the small twin-aisle aircraft, unofficially designated the 797, which could be the first all-new airliner the company has developed since the 787 Dreamliner. The new aircraft will be bigger than the 737 MAX family and have between 225 and 270 seats.