SAN FRANCISCO, July 16 (Xinhua) -- U.S. aircraft leasing company Jackson Square Aviation (JSA) said Monday that it has signed with aerospace giant Boeing Corp. a deal worth 3.5 billion U.S. dollars to buy 30 737 MAX airplanes to meet its growing business demand.

JSA said the order, which was signed at the ongoing 2018 Farnborough International Airshow in Britain, was its first direct purchase from a jet maker, making the San Francisco-based full-service commercial aircraft lessor the 100th customer for the Boeing 737 MAX program.

"We are excited to become even more of a full-service partner for our airline customers by expanding our fleet of 737 MAX airplanes as global demand for narrow-body jets continues to rise," said JSA CEO Toby Bright.

He said the addition of the new 737 MAX jets will enhance his firm's long-term business model and meet the growing global demand for narrow-body jets.

Founded in 2010, JSA has been buying new technology airplanes from airlines around the world through sale-leaseback financing and pre-delivery payment financing agreements.

JSA currently has a fleet of 181 aircraft with long and balanced lease terms placed with 49 customers in 27 countries.

Ihssane Mounir, senior vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing at Boeing, said JSA has "financed more than 100 Boeing airplanes" during the expansion of its aircraft fleet.

Boeing said the 737 MAX is a highly fuel efficient and the fastest-selling airplane in Boeing history, with accumulative orders of 4,600 jets from Boeing's 100 customers worldwide.