Somon Air has purchased two Boeing 737-900ERs in its first direct purchase of aircraft from an airframer.

The Dushanbe, Tajikstan-based carrier signed a letter of intent with Boeing in October and stated that delivery of the two aircraft was planned for the second half of 2011.

The order is valued at $163m at list prices.

Somon Air is the country's first private full-service carrier and currently operates two wet-leased 737-800 aircraft on routes to Russia, Germany, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.

The order is part of an expansion that may see its current fleet of two eventually grow to six aircraft as the airline seeks to serve destinations in Saudi Arabia and China.

Boeing has earned 57 net orders to date in 2010, including 32 737 aircraft.

Source: Air Transport Intelligence news