Boeing near breakthrough 737 MAX deal with new Indian carrier

Boeing (NYSE:BA) is in advanced talks with a newly created Indian budget carrier to sell 737 MAX jets, in a deal that could provide a breakthrough in a major market dominated by Airbus (OTCPK:EADSY), Bloomberg reports.

The Akasa airline also has talked with Airbus for its A320neo jets, but the model is not available for delivery for several years, giving Boeing the edge, according to the report.

The discussions reportedly involve a deal for as many as 80 planes with deliveries starting as soon as within seven months, although any announcement will depend on Akasa obtaining regulatory approvals to formally start the airline business.

Meanwhile, a 737 MAX test plane reportedly took to the skies in China earlier today, as Boeing hopes to end a nearly two-and-a-half year grounding of the model in the country.

The MAX has been cleared for service in 175 countries but not in China, Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun said recently that he expects the plane to win approval there before year-end.

Carl Surran https://seekingalpha.com/