Aerolineas Argentinas Orders 20 Boeing 737-800 Aircraft

A Boeing 737-800 in Aerolineas Argentinas livery

Boeing and Aerolineas Argentinas announced the purchase of 20 Next Generation 737-800 aircraft on Tuesday.

The deal, which is valued at $1.8 billion at list price, is part of the Argentinean flag carrier’s fleet modernization program.   The airline currently has a fleet that includes Airbus A340-200 and -300, Boeing 737-700 and -800, and Embraer 190 aircraft.

The purchase was formalized at a signing ceremony with Dr. Mariano Recalde, the airline’s president, and Van Rex Gallard, vice president of sales for Boeing in the region, in attendance.

The Boeing 737-800 is part of the 737 Next Generation family that is promised to consist of the -600, -700, -800, and -900 models of the aircraft.  It is the third generation of the 737 and has been produced since 1996.  It can be configured to seat 162 passengers in a two-class layout or up to 189 in one class.   The airline’s current 737-800 jets are configured with 8 Club Economy seats and 162 economy seats.

Aerolineas Argentinas’ relationship with Boeing dates back to the Douglas DC-3, which was produced beginning in 1936.  Douglas Aircraft merged with McDonnell Aircraft in 1967, and McDonnell Douglas merged with Boeing in 1997.