Aircraft Orders & Deliveries
SMBC Aviation Capital Orders 100 Boeing 737 MAX at Farnborough
SMBC Aviation Capital ordered 60 Boeing 737 MAX 10 and 40 MAX 8 jets at the 2026 Farnborough Airshow.
SMBC Aviation Capital placed a firm order for 100 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft on July 20, 2026, marking the lessor’s first direct commitment to the highest-capacity Boeing 737 MAX 10 variant.
Announced during the Farnborough International Airshow in the United Kingdom, the agreement includes 60 Boeing 737 MAX 10 and 40 Boeing 737 MAX 8 jets. According to a Boeing press release, the transaction represents the single largest order for the Boeing 737 MAX 10 placed by an aircraft leasing company. The acquisition reflects a broader industry trend of lessors upgauging to larger narrowbody aircraft to meet airline demand.
Expanding the narrowbody portfolio
The order increases SMBC Aviation Capital’s total owned, managed, and committed portfolio for the Boeing 737 MAX family to 450 aircraft. The lessor cited sustained demand for technologically advanced narrowbody aircraft and a forecasted 4% annual growth in global passenger traffic over the next two decades as primary drivers for the acquisition.
SMBC Aviation Capital CEO Peter Barrett stated the transaction will ensure airline customers have access to a long-term pipeline of new technology aircraft.
“Our partnership with Boeing spans over two decades and this order reflects market dynamics as our airline and investor customers look to upgauge to the 737-10,” Barrett said. “This order will support their growth ambitions well into the next decade.”
Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Stephanie Pope noted that the commitment reflects strong demand for the efficiency and versatility of the Boeing 737 MAX family. Lessors globally have ordered 1,450 Boeing 737 MAX jets, accounting for 20% of the manufacturer’s backlog for the type.
Boeing 737 MAX 10 certification and parallel Airbus orders
The Boeing 737 MAX 10 offers a maximum passenger capacity of 230 and a range of 3,100 nautical miles. The aircraft remains in the certification process. According to reporting by Aviation Week on July 16, 2026, Boeing indicated that certification flight testing for the variant is 98% complete. Remaining activities include development-assurance reviews and system-safety submissions.
The Boeing agreement was part of a broader acquisition strategy executed by SMBC Aviation Capital at the Farnborough International Airshow. On July 20, 2026, the lessor announced a parallel order for 100 Airbus A320neo family aircraft, comprising 65 Airbus A321neo and 35 Airbus A320neo jets. This brought the company’s total narrowbody commitments at the event to 200 aircraft.
AirPro News analysis
We view SMBC Aviation Capital’s dual 100-aircraft orders with both Boeing and Airbus as a clear indicator of lessor confidence in long-term narrowbody demand. The specific pivot toward the Boeing 737 MAX 10 and the Airbus A321neo highlights a definitive market preference for the largest available single-aisle variants. As airlines seek to maximize capacity on slot-constrained routes while maintaining the operating economics of narrowbody aircraft, lessors are adjusting their portfolios to match this upgauging trend. The Boeing 737 MAX 10 order is particularly notable given the aircraft’s ongoing certification process, signaling that major financial stakeholders remain comfortable with the program’s trajectory.
Sources: Boeing
Photo Credit: Boeing
Aircraft Orders & Deliveries
Jackson Square Aviation Delivers A220-300 to Breeze Airways
Jackson Square Aviation delivered the first of two leased A220-300s to Breeze Airways on September 3, 2026.
Jackson Square Aviation delivered the first of two leased Airbus A220-300 aircraft to Breeze Airways on September 3, 2026, supporting the carrier’s ongoing transition to a single-type fleet.
The delivery, announced via a company press release, marks another step in Breeze Airways’ strategy to utilize the A220-300 to profitably connect unserved and underserved secondary markets across the United States. A second aircraft under the same lease agreement is scheduled for delivery in October 2026.
Expanding the A220-300 fleet
Breeze Airways continues to scale its operations around the Airbus narrowbody. Ryan Schroeter, Vice President and Treasurer for Breeze Airways, noted that the airline is focused on connecting communities with a premium travel experience.
“Jackson Square has supported Breeze from the beginning. We are thrilled to partner with them as we scale our Airbus A220 fleet and continue connecting unserved and underserved communities providing a premium travel experience,” Schroeter said.
Jackson Square Aviation highlighted the aircraft’s operational economics. John Yanney, Head of Marketing Americas & OEM Relations for the lessor, stated the A220 provides an ideal balance of range, capacity, and efficiency for the airline’s network.
“The A220 has established a strong benchmark for single-aisle efficiency, combining lower fuel consumption, reduced emissions and an enhanced passenger experience. We’re delighted to support Breeze with this delivery and to continue building on the strong partnership we’ve shared since the airline launched operations,” Yanney said.
Strategic leasing partnerships
The agreement with Jackson Square Aviation follows similar leasing arrangements as Breeze Airways aggressively expands its fleet. In March 2026, the airline took delivery of three Airbus A220-300s from Dutch regional aircraft lessor TrueNoord.
The A220-300 serves as the backbone of the airline’s point-to-point network strategy. The aircraft’s lower operating costs allow the carrier to sustain routes between Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities that larger narrowbody jets cannot serve economically.
AirPro News analysis
We view Breeze Airways’ continued reliance on leased A220-300s as a calculated approach to rapid capacity growth without the immediate capital expenditure of direct manufacturer purchases. By diversifying its leasing partners across firms like Jackson Square Aviation and TrueNoord, the airline mitigates financial risk while securing the specific airframes required to execute its niche route strategy. The A220-300 remains uniquely positioned for this market-analysis segment, offering mainline range with regional jet economics.
Sources: Jackson Square Aviation LLC
Photo Credit: Jackson Square Aviation
Aircraft Orders & Deliveries
ANA Holdings Orders 8 More Embraer E190-E2 Jets, Total Hits 23
ANA Holdings expands its E190-E2 order to 23 aircraft, with IBEX Airlines set to operate the jets under an ACMI deal from FY2029.
ANA Holdings Inc. (ANA HD) has finalized an agreement with Embraer to acquire eight additional Embraer E190-E2 regional jets, bringing the Japanese aviation group’s total firm orders for the type to 23 aircraft. The transaction, announced on September 3, 2026, underpins a newly established capacity purchase agreement that will see the modern narrowbodies replace aging regional aircraft on domestic Japanese routes.
In a press release issued by Embraer, the manufacturer confirmed the order accelerates ANA HD’s regional fleet modernization strategy. The aircraft will be deployed under a comprehensive Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance (ACMI) partnership with Japanese regional carrier IBEX Airlines, an arrangement formally approved by the ANA HD board of directors on July 29, 2026.
Fleet modernization and the IBEX Airlines partnership
Under the terms of the ACMI agreement, All Nippon Airways (ANA) will serve as the marketing carrier, overseeing route planning and ticket sales for the regional network. IBEX Airlines will operate the flights using the newly ordered Embraer E190-E2 aircraft. The introduction of the E2 fleet will allow IBEX Airlines to retire its legacy fleet of Bombardier CRJ700 aircraft.
Deliveries of the new Embraer jets to ANA HD are scheduled to begin in 2028. The companies are targeting fiscal year 2029 for the official launch of the ACMI operations between ANA and IBEX Airlines.
ANA Holdings President and CEO Koji Shibata stated that the additional E190-E2 order accelerates the company’s efforts to build a sustainable regional aviation network in Japan. He noted the agreement underscores ANA HD’s confidence in Embraer’s technology to reduce both environmental impact and operating costs while elevating regional connectivity.
Embraer’s growing footprint in the Japanese market
The September 3 agreement builds upon ANA HD’s initial commitment to the E2 program. The company placed its first firm order for 15 E190-E2 aircraft, along with five options, on February 25, 2025. ANA HD originally selected the Embraer E190-E2 to fulfill its regional fleet requirements following the 2023 cancellation of the Mitsubishi SpaceJet program, for which ANA was the intended launch customer.
Embraer Commercial Aviation President and CEO Arjan Meijer said the manufacturer is honored by the continued confidence from ANA HD and looks forward to supporting the airline group’s growth plans.
“With its exceptional economics and fuel efficiency, the E2 will support expanded connectivity across Japan along with better comfort and space for passengers,” Meijer said.
AirPro News analysis
We view ANA HD’s decision to exercise further E190-E2 orders as a pragmatic stabilization of its regional strategy following the collapse of the domestic SpaceJet initiative. By structuring the deployment through an ACMI agreement with IBEX Airlines, ANA HD effectively outsources the operational transition while retaining network control and marketing revenue. The transition from the Bombardier CRJ700 to the E190-E2 will provide a substantial step up in capacity and fuel efficiency, aligning with broader industry trends toward upgauging regional networks with next-generation crossover narrowbodies. The timeline also provides IBEX Airlines with a clear runway to phase out its older airframes before maintenance costs on the out-of-production CRJ fleet escalate further.
Sources: Embraer
Photo Credit: Embraer
Aircraft Orders & Deliveries
Sun PhuQuoc Airways Takes Delivery of First A321neo LR
Sun PhuQuoc Airways receives Vietnam’s first A321neo LR, enabling direct long-range routes to Japan and Kazakhstan from Phu Quoc.
Sun PhuQuoc Airways has taken delivery of its first Airbus A321neo LR, marking the first time a Vietnamese carrier has owned and operated the long-range narrowbody variant.
The aircraft, registered as VN-A925, arrived in Hanoi (HAN) on September 3, 2026. In an official statement, the leisure-focused airline highlighted the aircraft’s extended range as a primary driver for its upcoming international network expansion.
Fleet expansion and route capabilities
The Airbus A321neo LR features a maximum range of 4,000 nautical miles, or approximately 7,400 kilometers. This capability allows the carrier to reach deeper into Asia and potentially Eastern Europe directly from its base in Vietnam.
According to flight tracking data from Flightradar24, the aircraft was ferried from Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to Denpasar (DPS) in late August before making its final delivery flight to Hanoi. Sun PhuQuoc Airways emphasized the strategic value of the acquisition in its announcement.
“With a range of up to 4,000 nautical miles, the A321neo LR is built to take Sun PhuQuoc Airways farther, opening the door to more destinations and more journeys beyond Vietnam,” the company stated.
Strategic shift for Vietnamese leisure travel
Backed by the Sun Group conglomerate, Sun PhuQuoc Airways operates a leisure-focused model designed to boost tourism to Phu Quoc (PQC). The airline has been rapidly expanding its fleet to support an international growth strategy.
The addition of the A321neo LR enables the airline to connect Phu Quoc to distant markets such as Japan and Kazakhstan. Operating these routes with a narrowbody aircraft reduces the financial risk compared to deploying larger, harder-to-fill widebody jets on unproven leisure routes.
AirPro News analysis
We view the acquisition of the Airbus A321neo LR as a calculated step for Sun PhuQuoc Airways to capture long-haul leisure traffic without the overhead of a widebody fleet. By utilizing the A321LR, the airline can test thinner, long-distance routes directly to Phu Quoc. This mirrors a broader global industry trend where operators leverage long-range narrowbody aircraft to bypass traditional major hubs and connect secondary leisure destinations directly to international source markets.
Sources: Sun PhuQuoc Airways
Photo Credit: Sun PhuQuoc Airways
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