<p>Allegiant Air is close to ordering 50 Boeing 737 MAX jets worth $5 billion at list prices, people familiar with the matter said, as the low-cost U.S. airline eyes a rebound in tourism.</p>.<p>The deal for dozens of new jets would stem a series of commercial setbacks for Boeing Co. For Allegiant, it marks a shift from the airline's previous strategy of picking up second-hand jets at bargain prices, which has helped it accumulate more than 100 jets built by Europe's Airbus.</p>.<p>The airline's change to Boeing comes after two of the planemaker's key customers, KLM and Australia's Qantas, late last year switched to Airbus, heightening competition between the two plane makers.</p>.<p>Such "flips" are rare due to the cost of retraining pilots but reflect fierce competition for new business as the aerospace industry seeks to recover from its worst-ever recession.</p>.<p>Boeing, Airbus and Allegiant Air, a unit of Allegiant Travel Co, all declined to comment.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/indonesia-to-allow-boeings-737-max-to-fly-again-after-fatal-crash-1065491.html">Indonesia to allow Boeing's 737 MAX to fly again after fatal crash</a></strong></p>.<p>It is the latest sign of accelerated growth among "ultra-low-cost" carriers that combine rock-bottom fares with a menu of optional charges. Carriers like these are expected to emerge in a position of relative strength from the Covid-19 pandemic.</p>.<p>"The leisure market is coming back in droves relative to the business market," said one of the sources familiar with Allegiant's plans.</p>.<p>The Las Vegas-based carrier operates a total of 122 A319 or A320 jets, only 13 of which were ordered directly from Airbus, according to European data.</p>.<p>The new Boeing planes would replace retired jets and feed Allegiant's growth plans over the coming years, the people said.</p>.<p>Mexico's Viva Aerobus in December announced a commercial alliance with Allegiant to offer flights between the United States and Mexico.</p>.<p>The Allegiant order would come after a contest at least partially between the 737 MAX 7 and the Airbus A220, two of the people said.</p>.<p>Each 737 MAX 7 carries a list price of $99.7 million, but jets usually sell for less than half their official value with typical market discounts, aircraft industry sources say.</p>.<p>Boeing has had a strong year of 737 MAX sales, seizing on pent-up demand after a nearly two-year safety ban following fatal crashes. But it lost high-profile contests at Qantas Airways and the Dutch arm of Air France-KLM in December.</p>.<p><strong>Watch the latest DH Videos here:</strong></p>
<p>Allegiant Air is close to ordering 50 Boeing 737 MAX jets worth $5 billion at list prices, people familiar with the matter said, as the low-cost U.S. airline eyes a rebound in tourism.</p>.<p>The deal for dozens of new jets would stem a series of commercial setbacks for Boeing Co. For Allegiant, it marks a shift from the airline's previous strategy of picking up second-hand jets at bargain prices, which has helped it accumulate more than 100 jets built by Europe's Airbus.</p>.<p>The airline's change to Boeing comes after two of the planemaker's key customers, KLM and Australia's Qantas, late last year switched to Airbus, heightening competition between the two plane makers.</p>.<p>Such "flips" are rare due to the cost of retraining pilots but reflect fierce competition for new business as the aerospace industry seeks to recover from its worst-ever recession.</p>.<p>Boeing, Airbus and Allegiant Air, a unit of Allegiant Travel Co, all declined to comment.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/indonesia-to-allow-boeings-737-max-to-fly-again-after-fatal-crash-1065491.html">Indonesia to allow Boeing's 737 MAX to fly again after fatal crash</a></strong></p>.<p>It is the latest sign of accelerated growth among "ultra-low-cost" carriers that combine rock-bottom fares with a menu of optional charges. Carriers like these are expected to emerge in a position of relative strength from the Covid-19 pandemic.</p>.<p>"The leisure market is coming back in droves relative to the business market," said one of the sources familiar with Allegiant's plans.</p>.<p>The Las Vegas-based carrier operates a total of 122 A319 or A320 jets, only 13 of which were ordered directly from Airbus, according to European data.</p>.<p>The new Boeing planes would replace retired jets and feed Allegiant's growth plans over the coming years, the people said.</p>.<p>Mexico's Viva Aerobus in December announced a commercial alliance with Allegiant to offer flights between the United States and Mexico.</p>.<p>The Allegiant order would come after a contest at least partially between the 737 MAX 7 and the Airbus A220, two of the people said.</p>.<p>Each 737 MAX 7 carries a list price of $99.7 million, but jets usually sell for less than half their official value with typical market discounts, aircraft industry sources say.</p>.<p>Boeing has had a strong year of 737 MAX sales, seizing on pent-up demand after a nearly two-year safety ban following fatal crashes. But it lost high-profile contests at Qantas Airways and the Dutch arm of Air France-KLM in December.</p>.<p><strong>Watch the latest DH Videos here:</strong></p>