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LE BOURGET — Low-cost Nordic carrier Norwegian Air Shuttle on Tuesday announced an order for 15 Boeing 737-800 planes in a deal worth $1.2 billion at list prices.
Norwegian CEO Bjorn Kjos called the Boeing single-aisle planes "fantastic" and said the airline has also finalized a contract announced in May to buy three Boeing 787 Dreamliners.
The order, with deliveries expected between 2015 and 2018, was announced at the Paris Air Show, where Chicago-based Boeing is locked in a battle for orders with European archrival Airbus.
The two plane makers announced a total of $25 billion in orders, options and commitments for 198 aircraft as the show opened Monday, including 90 for an Airbus rival to the 737 — the A320neo.
Though the Norwegian deal is worth $1.2 billion at list prices, carriers often negotiate discounts on big orders. Norwegian has already received 20 Boeing jets and now has total orders for 78 planes from the U.S. company.
Norwegian's Kjos touted the 737, which can seat up to 189 passengers, as "best-in-class regarding economy" and insisted it has "the lowest emission of aircraft in the narrow-body class today."
Airbus is promoting its A320neo, a version of its 320 that's been re-engineered to make it more fuel efficient. The neo — short for new engine option — won't be available for another four years. Norwegian's Nordic rival SAS AB announced Monday an order for 30 A320neos for some $2.8 billion.
At a time of sky-high fuel prices, airlines are particularly interested in energy-efficient models at this year's show — displays have included biofuel and hybrid engines as well as a solar plane.
