Oman Air receives first Boeing 737 Max

Oman Air has received its first 737 Max plane from US manufacturer Boeing.

The jet, which is claimed to offer gains in fuel efficiency, is part of an order of 30 made by the Omani carrier.

Oman Air’s first 737 Max is powered by CFM International LEAP-1B engines and comes in the Max 8 configuration with 162 seats.

These include 12 new special-designed business class seats with 17-inch touchscreens and 150 economy class seats with 10-inch touchscreens.

“The aircraft will be a perfect complement to our 737 family as we continue to expand our operations and play an increasingly active role in promoting Oman for business as well as a unique tourism destination, which is growing rapidly in popularity with every passing year,” said Oman Air acting CEO Abdulaziz Al-Raisi.

Oman Air ordered 20 Maxs in October 2015 and has entered into a lease agreement for a further 10.

The new single-aisle planes will add to the airline’s fleet of 27 Boeing 737s and seven 787 Dreamliners

The 737 Max is Boeing’s fastest selling plane with 4,300 orders to date from 92 customers, according to the company.

The plane has proven popular with other Middle Eastern airlines including low cost carrier flydubai, which made a $27bn order for 175 with purchase options for a further 50 at the Dubai Airshow in November.

Read: Flydubai orders 225 Boeing 737 Max aircraft

It competes with European manufacturer Airbus’ A320neo family, which it says has 5,800 orders from 98 customers.

These include the company’s largest ever order for 430 planes made at the Dubai Airshow by US aviation investor Bill Franke’s Indigo Partners.

Read: Airbus seals largest plane order ever at Dubai Airshow