Alaska Airlines said Wednesday it was ordering 35 Boeing 737s, and Spanish carrier Air Europa announced it will acquire 18 of the narrow-body jets.
Together the deals are worth $3.5 billion at list prices, but airlines typically negotiate steep discounts.
In addition to the firm orders, Alaska Airlines took options to buy 15 additional 737-800s — reserving spots in the production line — and acquired purchase rights, which are subject to availability, for another 50 of the single-aisle jets.
Air Europa's agreement included options for an additional 12 737-800s.
Alaska will configure the 737s in two classes to seat 157 people. Boeing's announcement of Air Europa's order did not include details about how those planes will be configured. It also didn't say when the airline would take delivery.
Delivery of Alaska Airlines' 35 new planes will be spread out over the next six years, with the first to enter Alaska's fleet in January 2006. The order includes three 737-800s which the airline already planned to acquire next year.
Alaska's fleet includes 109 aircraft, most of them in the 737 family, and 26 Boeing MD-80s.
Alaska, the nation's ninth-largest carrier, and its sister airline, Horizon Air, serve more than 80 cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The companies are part of Seattle-based Alaska Air Group Inc.
Air Europa, Spain's second-largest carrier, flies to roughly 40 destinations, about half of them in Spain.
Since the Paris Air Show started on Monday, Chicago-based Boeing Co. has announced orders for a total of 146 planes — most of them 737s. Its chief rival, Toulouse, France-based Airbus, has announced 112 and says more deals are likely later in the week.