DUBAI - U.S. plane maker Boeing on Tuesday announced orders for a total of 11 737-800s from two Algerian airlines worth as much as $891 million at list price, its first deals of a quiet Dubai Airshow.Air Algerie has placed an order for seven 737-800s, while Tassili Airlines has signed a deal for four of the single-aisle aircraft, Boeing said in separate joint statements.
List price for the 737-800 is $72.5 million to $81 million, according to Boeing's website.
Air Algerie said the new aircraft will help with “fuel efficiency and related environmental improvements”.
Air Algerie operates a fleet of 31 aircraft that includes 10 737-800s, five 737-600s and three 767-300s.
Tassili Airlines, a subsidiary of state-owned Sonatrach Petroleum Corp, said it will use the aircraft to transport employees and cargo.
Tassili, founded in 1997, plans to put its 737s into commercial passenger service on domestic and regional routes in the near future, it said.
This year has seen scant orders for commercial aircraft, with only Airbus scoring minor victories prior to Tuesday with a $3 billion order from Ethiopian Airlines and a $700 million order from Yemenia Airways.
This is in sharp contrast to plane orders approaching $40 billion on the first day of the airshow in 2007, the last time the expo was held, which went on to top $100 billion over the full five days.