SunExpress has locked in an additional order for 10 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft at the Dubai Airshow, bringing their total to 42 aircraft from the North American aerospace company. The carrier plans to use the aircraft to open up destinations between Turkey and Europe.

What are the details?

SunExpress and Boeing came together at the Dubai Airshow to announce the order for 10 more Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft. This will add to their existing order of 32 aircraft.

"We have a long-standing, strong and trustful relationship with Boeing and thus we decided to turn our option into an order. We stand behind our strategic decision to phase the 737 MAX into our fleet for all of its economic and ecological advantages, mid- and long-term," says Jens Bischof, CEO of SunExpress in the Boeing Press release.

"We are honored and humbled by the trust that SunExpress has placed in our team at Boeing. They have been a wonderful partner over the years, demonstrating every day the efficiency and reliability of the Boeing 737 across their growing network," said Stan Deal, president & CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes

What about the 737 MAX controversy?

However, readers are likely very familiar with the Boeing 737 MAX 8s reputation and question whether or not this order is a good move for the airline. It seems Boeing and SunExpress want to address this issue before it gets out of hand and offered their own carefully statements.

Jens Bischof said "We have full confidence that Boeing will deliver us a safe, reliable, and efficient aircraft. However, it goes without saying that this requires the undisputed airworthiness of the model, granted by all relevant authorities. Our utmost priority at SunExpress is and has always been safety."

Stan Deal commentated "We regret the impact the MAX grounding has had on SunExpress and its passengers. The Boeing team is working hard to safely return the airplane to service and providing the capacity for SunExpress to continue serving as the backbone of air travel in the Turkish tourism industry."

SunExpress was evidently expecting at least one Boeing 737 MAX delivery this year, which has yet to eventuate.

Who is SunExpress?

SunExpress is actually a very unique airline that is 50% owned by Lufthansa and 50% owned by Turkish Airlines. Thus with the backing of two very powerful airlines, the carrier operates cheap holiday destinations from Western Europe to Turkey with their fleet of Boeing aircraft.

They currently operate 68 Boeing 737-800 and are looking to replace them with the aforementioned 42 737 MAX 8 aircraft. The fuel improvements, as well as range flexibility, make the 737 MAX a superior aircraft over the previous 737 generations... on paper.

The reality is however that the 737 MAX is mured by issues and the general public is uneasy that Boeing has truely fixed the flaw at the heart of the problem... the 737 MAX design. The aircraft has not yet been reapproved by world aviation authorities and making another order for the type that is still grounded seems like SunExpress is investing in their sunk-cost.

What do you think? Will you fly on the SunExpress 737 MAX? Let us know!