A Southwest Airlines jet (Credit: Scott Olson/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO (CBS) – Chicago-based Boeing has landed its largest aircraft order in its history.
Southwest Airlines, which has a hub at Chicago’s Midway Airport, placed the order for 208 planes, worth $19 billion.
It will start to take delivery in 2017 of Boeing’s new 737 Max, which has new engines that make it more fuel-efficient. Rising gasoline costs are constantly an Achilles’ Heel for commercial airlines.
Under the deal, SWA will buy 150 of the 737 Max. The remaining 58 planes will be other 737 models.
Southwest CEO Gary Kelly says the order will allow the company to maintain its position as a low-cost carrier.
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