Norwegian Air scrubs US$10.6-billion deal for Boeing Max, 787 Jets

[dufus]

 

Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA has notified Boeing Co. that it is terminating purchase agreements for all 97 of its remaining jets on order with the U.S. planemaker.

 

The cancellation covers 92 of Boeing’s 737 Max planes and five 787 Dreamliners as well as related service agreements, Norwegian said in a statement Monday. The aircraft are worth at least US$10.6 billion based on list prices.

 

Talks with Boeing have “not led to an agreement with a reasonable compensation,” Norwegian said in the statement. In addition, the airline said it filed a legal claim seeking the return of pre-delivery payments for the planes plus compensation for losses related to the Max’s long grounding.

 

For Boeing, the termination roils a key customer relationship, even if Norwegian’s financial troubles had cast doubt on its ability to take all the planes. Norwegian converted debt to equity and sold new shares last month in order to get access to government loan guarantees in its home market, saving it from collapse after the COVID-19 crisis gutted demand for air travel.

 

Boeing couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.

 

The Max has been grounded since March 2019 following two deadly crashes. Boeing on Monday completed the first test flight in a process to regain certification for the Max from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration.

source

[aum]

Norwegian Air Cancels Order for 97 Boeing Aircraft, Sues Boeing