Turkish airline buys 10 Boeing 737 Maxs despite plane's crashes, groundings

According to an SEC filing, Southwest is removing Boeing 737 MAX jets from its schedule, now adding more doubt into whether Boeing can get these planes back in the air.

DUBAI, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Turkey's SunExpress announced on Monday it is buying an additional 10 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, on top of 32 already ordered, endorsing the U.S. planemaker's grounded jet.

The billion dollar new order, announced at the Dubai Air Show, is Boeing's second 737 MAX order after a deadly crash of an Ethiopian Airlines jet in March led to the worldwide ban of the MAX fleet. British Airways-owner IAG signed a letter of intent for 200 737 MAX planes in June.

AIRBUS RAKES IN $30 BILLION FOR 140 JETS AT DUBAI AIRSHOW

Leisure airline SunExpress, a joint venture of Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa, said in a statement that it signed the additional order on Monday and that the purchase was valued at $1.2 billion according to list prices.

The airline expressed confidence in the jet's capabilities and its return to service, even as Turkish Airlines has been critical of Boeing during the 737 MAX crisis.

A Boeing 737 MAX 8 jetliner being built for Turkish Airlines takes off on a test flight in Renton, Wash. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

"We believe this was and is the right decision for SunExpress in order to survive and be successful... The economics and the ecological advantages of this aircraft are valid and confirmed," Chief Executive Officer Jens Bischof said. He has the support of the company's shareholders for a 737 MAX order, he said.

GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE

In 2014 SunExpress ordered 32 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft which have not yet been delivered.

Turkish Airlines took delivery of 12 737 MAX jets from an order of 75 planes before the aircraft was grounded in March.