FARNBOROUGH, United Kingdom, July 17, 2008 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has signed an order with Air China, the flag carrier of the People's Republic of China, for 15 777-300ER (Extended Range) and 30 Next-Generation 737-800 jetliners.

"These airplanes are the most fuel efficient in their classes," said Kong Dong, Chairman of Air China Limited. "The 777-300ER will be the backbone of our long-haul international fleet and the new 737-800 will support our hub build-up and our company's domestic strategy."

Air China operates international and domestic scheduled passenger and cargo services and will use the airplanes to expand its international and domestic routes. The carrier is based in Beijing, the home of the 2008 Olympic Games, and is the only Chinese airline selected as a 2008 Beijing Olympics partner. The airline is one of the latest air carriers to become a full member of Star Alliance.

"Our long-standing and productive partnership with Air China goes back to the airline's beginning and we're proud to be part of their success," said Rob Laird, vice president, China & East Asia Sales, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "Air China's expansion and renewal program demonstrates their commitment to improving fuel efficiency and reducing environmental impact, a commitment that Boeing shares."

The order, worth approximately $6.3 billion at average list prices, was previously posted to the Boeing Orders and Deliveries Web site and attributed to an unidentified customer.

The 777 family of airplanes is the market leader in the 300-to-400-seat segment. Since the first 777 went into service in June 1995, Boeing has continually grown the 777 family to include five passenger models and a freighter version.

To date, 56 customers around the world have ordered more than 1,080 777s, making it the most successful twin-engine wide-body airplane on the market. Currently, Boeing has more than 350 unfilled orders for the 777.

To date, 115 customers have ordered more than 4,800 Next-Generation 737s. Boeing has more than 2,200 unfilled orders for the Next-Generation 737 valued at more than $160 billion at current list prices.

The 777-300ER is the Extended Range (ER) version of the 777-300 and contains many modifications, including the GE90-115B engines, which are the world's most powerful jet engine with 115,300 lbf (513 kN) thrust. Other features include raked wingtips, a new main landing gear, extra fuel tanks (2,600 gallons), as well as strengthened fuselage, wings, empennage, nose gear, engine struts and nacelles, and a higher MTOW, 775,000 lb versus 660,000 lb for the 777-300.

Both the 777-300ER and 777-300 weigh approximately 360,000 lb empty and have the same passenger and payload capacity, but the ER has a higher MTOW and therefore can carry about 110,000 lb more fuel than the -300. This enables the -300ER to fly roughly 34% farther with the same passengers and cargo.

Let's talk about the 737-800, 737-800 was launched by Hapag-Lloyd Flug (now TUIfly) in 1994 and entered service in 1998. The 737-800 seats 162 passengers in a two class layout, or 189 in one class, and it competes with the A320 and more capability. For many airlines in the U.S., the 737-800 replaced aging Boeing 727-200 trijets. Well, if you can think bigger, embaded higher technology and warfighter, you can relate to the P-8 Poseidon is a 737-800ERX ("Extended Range") that, on 14 June 2004, Boeing's Integrated Defense Systems division beat Lockheed Martin in the contest to replace the P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft. The P-8 is unique in that it has 767-400ER-style raked wingtips, instead of the blended winglets available on other 737NG variants.

The Air China is the only airline to fly the national flag on its entire fleet, and Air China is the only airline known to be on the top 500 Brands. It operates 5,090 flights each week worldwide and is also the 18th largest airline in the world by fleet size.

Congratulation!! Boeing, Air China Announce Agreements for Boeing 777s and 737s.

Source:
Boeing News

Wikipedia

Reported by Sandra Englund