Aeromexico will receive its first Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft in 2019, allowing the carrier to add seats at constrained airports within its network.

The Mexico City-based airline will take delivery of four 737-9s from its orderbook and one leased from Air Lease, Aeromexico chief financial officer Ricardo Sanchez Baker and the lessor say today. The first of the aircraft is due around June 2019.

The aircraft will be Aeromexico's first of the stretched Max variant. It began taking delivery of 737 Max 8s in February.

The airline operates five 737-8s and has orders for another 14 Max 8s, two Max 9s and 39 for either variant, Flight Fleets Analyzer shows.

The ALC deal, which was announced today, is in addition to Aeromexico's orderbook for 737 Max aircraft. The aircraft will be delivered in the fall of 2019.

The carrier already leases two 737-800s and three Boeing 787-9s from the Los Angeles-based lessor, ALC says. It will deliver a fourth 787-9 to Aeromexico next spring.

The additional 737-9 delivery follows a decision by Aeromexico to retire five aircraft early this year. The airline will remove two 737-700s and three Embraer 170s by year-end, following a challenging third quarter.

Aeromexico will use the 737-9 to add capacity at constrained airports, including Mexico City, says Sanchez Baker. He does not say how many seats it will install on the aircraft.

The airline fits 166 seats on its 737-8s and 160 seats on its 737-800s. Boeing says the Max 9 seats 178-193 passengers in a standard two-class configuration.

Additional reporting by Sophie Segal.

Source: Cirium Dashboard