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AKARTA: Private airline Sriwijaya Air is to acquire 10 new Boeing 737-800 Next Generation (NG) aircraft to expand its international and domestic routes.

Sriwijaya Air corporate communication manager Ruth Hanna Simatupang told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday the airline would sign a purchasing contract on Oct. 12.

“Sriwijaya president director Chandra Lie will go to Seattle to sign the contract with Boeing,” she said.

Hanna said the airplanes would be delivered gradually starting 2012, while declining to mention the exact investment needed.

She only said Sriwijaya would finance the procurement of the new 162-seat airplanes using its own internal cashflow.

The price list at the Boeing website says that a 737-800 costs between US$72.5 to $81 million.

Currently Sriwijaya operates 27 aircraft, comprising 13 Boeing 727-200s, eight Boeing 737-300s and six Boeing 737-400s.

Sriwijaya also plans to buy 60 commuter aircraft by 2012 to serve remote airports. The airline has yet to decide which type but offers have come from ATR, Avro RJ, Bombardier and Embraer. — JP