Boeing loses a big order for their 737 Max

Saudi Arabian low-cost carrier, Flyadeal, announced on Sunday that it will order up to 50 Airbus A320neo, replacing the previous $6 Billion deal with Boeing for the Boeing 737 Max aircraft.

Photo by Boeing

Flyadeal cancelled their order for 50 Boeing 737 Max aircraft from Boeing on Sunday. This is Boeing's third loss against European rival Airbus, after the fatal crashes of Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302.

Indonesian low-cost carrier, Lion Air, was the first airline to cancel their order of over 200 Boeing 737 Max after the Ethiopian Flight 302 crashed. After Lion Air cancelled the order for the 737 Max, the national carrier of Indonesia decided to also cancel their order of 49 Boeing 737 Max's. Combined, 5% of the Boeing 737 Max orders have been cancelled.

Photo by Boeing

Other Airlines like Oman Air said in June that it would not consider purchasing Airbus aircraft unless Boeing did not provide "support and recover" for the grounded Boeing 737 Max planes. FlyDubai said it may also consider an Airbus order to replace its Boeing 737 Max order.

On the contrary, International Airlines Group (IAG) signed an agreement with Boeing to purchase 200 of the Boeing 737 Max Aircraft.

Photo by Boeing

Ever since the grounding of the Boeing 737 Max, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has discovered 3 flaws in the aircraft: The Maneuvering Characteristic Augmentation System (MCAS) software issue which causes the nose to pitch down in an uncontrollable manner, an issue with the 737 Max (non-related to the MCAS) which also causes the nose of the aircraft to pitch down and finally an issue with the autopilot system.