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SunExpress inks Boeing deal

February 19, 2014

Lufthansa subsidiary SunExpress has decided to reinforce its passenger plane fleet by ordering a large number of aircraft from Boeing. The company said the new jets will help it expand and become more profitable.

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SunExpress aircraft
Image: picture alliance/Wolfgang Mendorf

US aircraft maker Boeing and SunExpress signed a contract on the delivery of twenty-five 737-800 and fifteen 737 MAX 8 jets, the joint subsidiary of Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines reported Wednesday.

It said the planes had a list price of $3.8 billion (2.8 billion euros), with SunExpress securing an option to buy another ten 737 MAX 8 aircraft.

It added the jets were to be supplied between 2015 and 2021 and would be needed to improve route services from Germany to several destinations in Turkey.

Sticking with its old partner

"With today's deal, we lay the foundation for our expansion plans in Turkey and a number of European markets," SunExpress CEO Paul Schwaiger said in a statement.

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He added that the decision had been made on the basis "of a better offer from Boeing, a company we've cooperated with for many years."

The move reflected the airline's wish to buy more planes rather than upholding its previous strategy of leasing most of the aircraft in use.

The SunExpress fleet is completely made up of Boeing jets. The company said keeping it that way would safeguard training and maintenance costs.

hg/lw (dpa, AP)