BOC Aviation has placed a substantial aircraft order with both Airbus and Boeing for 120 narrowbody aircraft.
The aircraft lessor said on March 31, 2025, that the order will be comprised of 70 A320neo family aircraft and 50 737 MAX 8 jets.
Steven Townend, chief executive officer and managing director of BOC Aviation stated: “This order solidifies our position as one of the top five global aircraft operating lessors and provides us with a strong delivery pipeline into the next decade.”
Townend also stated that this latest transaction will lift BOCs remaining Airbus orderbook to around 200 aircraft and takes its total Airbus aircraft deliveries to over 700 since its first order in 1996.
“This significant investment makes BOC Aviation one of the largest Airbus customers and highlights the strong and continued market demand for our fuel-efficient aircraft and their long-term value,” said Benoit de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus EVP sales of the commercial aircraft business.
Additionally, BOC’s order of 50 Boeing jets means that the lessor has commitments to purchase over 140 737 MAX aircraft, which is the largest Boeing orderbook position in the lessor’s history.
"BOC Aviation's latest investment in the 737-8 demonstrates the confidence lessors have in this airplane to meet continued air travel demand and improve fuel efficiency," commented Brad McMullen, Boeing senior vice president of commercial sales and marketing
A BOC spokesperson told Airline Economics that the company will use its “standard approach to funding deliveries” in order to finance the purchase of these 120 aircraft. This will be achieved through an unsecured blend of raises from banks and capital markets. BOC raised $5.5bn in these markets alone in 2024.
Aircraft from Airbus are scheduled for delivery through to 2032, while deliveries from Boeing are scheduled for delivery through to 2031. All aircraft from both Airbus and Boeing include conversion rights to other variants of both the A320neo and 737 families of aircraft.
BOC ended 2024 with a fleet of 467 owned and managed aircraft, along with an orderbook of 232 aircraft. The company also ended the year 10 engines, all on lease or contracted for sale to airline customers, as it continues to invest in aircraft engines.