This article is published in Aviation Daily part of Aviation Week Intelligence Network (AWIN), and is complimentary through Aug 24, 2026. For information on becoming an AWIN Member to access more content like this, click here.
Stephanie Pope, CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, and SMBC CEO Peter Barrett announce the order for 100 MAXs on July 20 at the Farnborough Airshow.
FARNBOROUGH, England—SMBC Aviation Capital has signed a firm order for 100 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, including 60 737-10s as it looks to meet customer demand for the higher-capacity variant.
The order was signed at the Farnborough Airshow and reflects both confidence in the -10's certification progress and also customer appetite, the lessor said.
“Clearly, there's been some challenges,” SMBC CEO Peter Barrett said July 20. “We feel they are now behind us … [Boeing] has done great work to get us to a point, as you say, where things are imminent.”
SMBC will take 60 737-10s and 40 737-8s. Deliveries are expected to begin in the early part of the next decade.
Boeing noted the -10 commitment marks its single largest order from a lessor for the variant, which is the highest capacity model within the MAX family. It also marks SMBC’s first order for the -10, which Boeing expects will be certified soon. The addition to its orderbook should be enough to meet customer demand for the 737 into the next decade, Barrett said.
“We see a lot of placements for the larger gauge aircraft, and we think there's going to be great potential for the -10,” Barrett added. “Demand is good for the 737, and a lot of operators want to have an airplane that's going to have a bit more capacity and a bit more capability, and we think the airplane is going to deliver that for them.”
With the order, SMBC increases its owned, managed and committed to portfolio for the 737 MAX family to 450 jets.
“I think it's 20 years since our first order for the 737, and we're delighted to be an important supporter of this program,” Barrett added.
Related Content
