Airbus defeated Boeing again in a "battle for orders" at news emerged that Saudi Arabia's Flyadeal dropped the 737 Max jet maker for Airbus A320 planes in a $5.9 million deal that could have helped boost sales.
Multiple outlets confirmed that the initial deal was supposed to include 30 Boeing 737 max jets plus an option to purchase 20 more of the same aircraft along the way. According to BBC, Flyadeal, Saudi Arabia's famous low-cost flight provider, will instead purchase Airbus planes - a move that is another serious blow to the American jet maker.
Analysts noted that it seems IAG, the parent company that owns Vueling, Level, and the British Airways, couldn't help boost trust in Boeing despite the corporation's statement in June that it has "every confidence" in the aircraft creator.
Ever since the two crashes in October and March that took the lives of 346 in total, Boeing has been struggling to get its 737 Max jets back to its standard flight schedules. The planes in question also have yet to receive recertification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
While Flyadeal did not mention Boeing when it made the announcement of securing a deal with Airbus for a fleet of A320 jets, industry experts are not surprised that the Arabian airline company canceled its original 737 Max orders.
Boeing 737 Max planes have been grounded worldwide since March, following the demise of the Ethiopian Airlines jet that nosedived multiple times before crashing shortly after takeoff, taking the lives of everyone aboard.
According to CNN, a Boeing representative wished Flyadeal well despite the deal's cancelation. On the other hand, the company also said it will continue to "focus on safely returning" its planes in question in the air, triggering debates about its priorities at this point.
This is not the first time the U.S. jet provider was criticized for its alleged ingenuity. The firm said last week that it will donate $100 million to foundations and charities helping victims of the crashes cope with their loss and expenses.
However, families of the crash victims slammed Boeing's intentions for making a massive donation, Reuters reported. Many of them demanded clarity over the donations' extent and how the funds will be distributed equally to the loved ones of those who passed away in the tragedies.
Many law experts also expressed pessimism over the announcement, indicating that if Boeing was sincere about its plan to help the victims' families, it shouldn't have made the announcement publicly and opted for a more discreet way of assisting those who lost their loved ones.
