Boeing may bag big 737 Max jets order from India's Akasa

Boeing may bag an order soon for about 70 to 80 737 MAX jets from Indian billionaire Rakesh Jhunjhunwala’s start-up Akasa Air, Bloomberg News on Thursday (11) reported citing informed sources.

A deal on this could be unveiled during the Dubai Airshow, which is taking off on Sunday (14).

ALSO READ: Akasa Air gets India aviation ministry nod to take off

News of the potential order surfaced after Indian authorities in August cleared the US-based Boeing's best-selling jet to take off, ending its regulatory grounding in a key travel market in the world for plane manufacturers.

In September, Reuters reported that Boeing was close to winning an order for some 70-100 737 MAX jets from Akasa, pending separate negotiations on a long-term engine service deal.

Akasa Air is set to launch India’s latest ultra low-cost carrier after getting an initial clearance from India’s civil aviation ministry in October.

Boeing shares were up 1.1% in afternoon trading.

“We always seek opportunities and talk with current and potential customers about how we can best support their fleet and operational needs,” the plane-making giant said in a statement.

Akasa did not respond to a request from Reuters for comment.