Saudi carrier flyadeal ditches grounded Boeing MAX for Airbus

Saudi budget carrier flyadeal has withdrawn a provisional order for Boeing’s grounded 737 MAX jets, the US plane maker said Sunday, as the airline confirmed a new order for Airbus A320 aircraft.

“We understand that flyadeal will not finalise its commitment to the 737 MAX at this time given the airline’s schedule requirements,” a Boeing spokesman said.

The carrier’s provisional order was for “up to 50 MAXs — commitment for 30 and then options for 20 more”, the Boeing spokesman added.