Indonesian flag carrier Garuda is spending big to secure a larger slice of Asia’s increasingly competitive aviation market.
The airline has placed an order for 50 jet with Boeing worth a total of US$4.9 billion at list prices.
The order includes 46 Boeing 737 MAX 8 jets with the remaining four MAX 8 planes converted from an existing order for 737-800s.
"This order helps continue our commitment to offer the people of Indonesia and Southeast Asia the most comfortable, most efficient air travel in the region," said Garuda CEO Emirsyah Satar.
The deal marks a rapid change in fortunes for the Indonesian commercial aviation industry after a decade of mounting debts and a poor safety record.
By the end of the year both Garuda and its biggest domestic rival Lion Air will overtake Singapore Airlines as the largest carriers based on fleet size in the region, according to the CAPA Centre for Aviation.
