Lufthansa Announces Massive Boeing Deal, BA Continues 2023 Rally

Boeing (NYSE: BA) has staged an impressive recovery in the stock market in recent months, surging to the highest point in over two and a half years. Adding to the positive developments, the planemaker reached a deal with Lufthansa which will see the carrier buy 40 737 MAX jets and have the option to buy 60 more. 

Lufthansa Inks a $9 Billion Deal with Boeing and Airbus

Boeing’s shares rose slightly at the opening bell on Tuesday after the planemaker agreed on a major 737 MAX order with Lufthansa. 

Notably, the company noted that the second-biggest airline in Europe ordered 80 jets from Boeing and Airbus, plus additional purchasing options for a combined value of $9 billion. According to the announcement, Lufthansa will secure 40 Boeing 737-8 Max and 40 Airbus A220-300s as part of the deal, which is set to be delivered in 2026-2032. 

Further, the agreement allows Lufthansa to expand the order by 120 future purchasing options from both plane manufacturers. 

“With today’s aircraft order, we are accelerating the largest fleet modernization in our company’s history. This increases our order list of around 200 aircraft to 280 – plus an additional 120 purchasing options for further state-of-the-art short- and medium-haul aircraft.”

– said Dr. Detlef Kayser, Member of the Executive Board, Fleet and Technology at Lufthansa.

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Boeing Stock Price Highest Since March 2021

Lufthansa’s order of 737 MAXs represents the carrier’s first purchase of single-aisle planes from Boeing since 1995. 

The deal comes from a noteworthy rebound in the jet maker’s share price, particularly over the past few months. Since dropping below the $180 mark in late October, the stock embarked on a sharp upward trajectory, surging more than 48%. Boeing was trading at $262.75 when writing, its highest mark since March 2021. 

The impressive recovery can be attributed to various factors, including a significant surge in aircraft sales and noteworthy internal changes. The company promoted Chris Raymond to the head of the aftermarket business last week, whilst most of the major risks that are associated with the business began to subside in recent weeks. 

Boeing’s share price was also boosted by upgrades the stock received on Wall Street. Notably, Deutsche Bank and RBC analysts upgraded their shares to Buy from Hold over the past 30 days. At the same time, Stifel and William Blair strategists initiated their stock coverage with Buy ratings. 

The moves underscore Wall Street’s bullishness on the stock’s prospects thanks to its improving financials and easing macroeconomic pressures. 

Do you expect Boeing’s stock to extend its current momentum into 2024? Let us know in the comments below.