Spanish airline Air Europa has placed an order with Boeing for 20 737 MAX 8 jets for an undisclosed sum.

Equipped with CFM International LEAP-1B engines, the newly ordered single-aisle 737 MAX will be deployed Air Europa’s short-haul operations.

Last year, the airline placed an order for 14 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and this latest order sees Air Europa continue its efforts to become an all-Boeing carrier.

Compared with Boeing’s next-generation 737 jets, the 737 MAX will be 14% more fuel-efficient and 20% better than the original next-generation 737s when they first entered service.

Air Europa parent company Globalia president Juan José Hidalgo said: "The 737 MAX will complement Air Europa's growing fleet and is the perfect aircraft for our short-haul operations across Europe to feed our long-haul network from hubs in Madrid and Palma.

"This aircraft will play a major role in growing our business in the years to come and we look forward to becoming an all-Boeing carrier following recent orders for the 787 Dreamliner and 737 MAX."

 "The 737 MAX will complement Air Europa's growing fleet and is the perfect aircraft for our short-haul operations across Europe."

Air Europa currently has a combined total of 22 787-8 aircraft and 787-9s on order.

Meanwhile, Boeing has secured a $1.59bn order for six 787-9 Dreamliners from China’s Ruili Airlines.

Ruili Airlines chairman Ma Zhanwei said: "With our base in Yunnan province, Ruili Airlines is positioned to help build Yunnan as the gateway between South-West China and the rest of the world.

“The right size, long-range, competitive fuel efficiency, as well as passenger appealing edge of the 787-9 make it an ideal fit in facilitating our international expansion plans."

In addition, Egyptair has also placed an order for nine next-generation Boeing 737-800 jets in a deal worth $864m at current list prices.

Egyptair currently operates 20 737-800NG aircraft and six 777-300ERs and two 777-200ER jets.   

Image: Air Europa orders 20 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft. Photo: courtesy of Boeing.