Oslo (AFP) - Low-cost Norwegian airline Norwegian Air Shuttle announced Monday that it plans to buy 50 Boeing 737 MAX 8 planes, in an extra dose of support for the US planemaker, which has been in crisis since two of its planes crashed.

And a statement from the Norwegian company stated that the fifty aircraft will be delivered between the years 2025 and 2028, which is approximately the same period in which its lease contracts expire, noting that the deal includes an option to purchase 30 additional aircraft.

The order brings relief to Boeing, especially to the department involved in developing the 737 Max 8, which was grounded for 20 months after 346 people were killed in two crashes of this type.

"Norwegian" and "Boeing" have been involved in a legal dispute for years, and the Norwegian company is asking the American manufacturer for compensation due to problems related to the 737 MAX and 787 Dreamliner aircraft for long distances.

Norwegian did not disclose on Monday if the order was part of the dispute settlement.

The Norwegian company said that the deal is subject to "several conditions of completion", hoping to be completed by the end of June.

Currently, "Norwegian" operates 61 aircraft, and is seeking to increase its fleet to 70 aircraft this summer and to 85 aircraft next summer.

Struggled by overly optimistic expansion plans, technical issues and the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, the company narrowly avoided bankruptcy last year through an extensive restructuring process that led to several results including the abandonment of long-haul flights, the reduction of its fleet and the cancellation of several orders.

On the other hand, the "Norwegian" order reinforces the recovery path of the 737 MAX model, of which the "International Airlines Group", which owns British Airways "British Airways", requested the purchase of 50 aircraft of it, with the possibility of increasing the number to 150.