Boeing nears $5 billion in deals with Asian airlines

Orders may come next week for longest 737 jetliner, sources say

Boeing Co is closing in on about $5 billion in orders from two Asian carriers for its longest-ever 737, people familiar with the matter said.

The US planemaker is discussing a deal with India’s SpiceJet for about 20 of the 737 Max 10 aircraft, said the people, who asked not to be identified as the discussions are private. Indonesia’s Lion Mentari Airlines PT is studying an order for at least 20 planes and perhaps as many as 50 from a combination of commitments and conversions of existing orders for smaller 737 Max jets, the people said.

The deals may be announced as