SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 21 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria startup airline Green Africa Airways has pledged to buy up to 100 737 Boeing MAX 8 aircraft in the largest commitment that carries a total list-price of 11.7 billion U.S. dollars, U.S. top aircraft manufacturer Boeing Company said Friday.

The commitment is evenly split into 50 firm aircraft and 50 options as the Nigerian air carrier is gearing up to begin commercial operations with an ambitious plan to build a strong Pan African aviation network, including the Nigerian domestic market, Boeing said.

Founded in 2016 with its headquarters in Lagos, the commercial capital of Nigeria and the largest city in Africa, Green Africa Airways has received its Air Transport License from the Nigerian government.

Its management includes a group of senior industry leaders led by Tom Horton, former chairman and CEO of American Airlines, William Shaw, founder and former CEO of VivaColombia, and Virasb Vahidi, former CCO of American Airlines.

"This landmark deal takes us much closer to our long-held dream of building a world-class airline that will unlock a new realm of positive possibilities for millions of customers," said Babawande Afolabi, founder and CEO of Green Africa Airways.

Boeing said Nigeria has enjoyed a great potential for growing air travel across the country, and the airlines in Africa will buy a total of 1,190 new airplanes over the next couple of decades when the continent boosts both intra-continental and intercontinental connectivity via an airplane fleet expected to more than double in 20 years.

Hailing the 737 MAX family as the fastest-selling aircraft, Boeing has grabbed accumulated 4,800 orders from more than 100 customers across the world.