Karen Walker
Boeing may feel a little beleaguered at Farnborough '98, but it is still a company that can pull billion-dollar orders out of a hat on the show's opening day.
Yesterday, the commercial aircraft giant revealed a $900 million order from International Lease Finance and a $230 million order from KLM.
The KLM contract, for four 737-900s, is the first European order for the new generation -900. Boeing's total orders for the Next Generation 737 have now reached 1,012, the company says, making it the fastest-selling aircraft in the company's history.
Rene Kalmann, KLM's vice-president of fleet development, was at Farnborough yesterday to confirm the order. "The 737-900 will be ideal for our high density European routes," he said.
KLM already operates 737-300s and -400s and has on order eight -800s. Deliveries of the -900s will start in the second or third quarter of 2001. Launch customer for the -900 is Alaska Airlines.
The ILFC order is for 17 aircraft, including nine Next-Generation 737-800s. They will be delivered in 2001.
Six 757-200s will be delivered in 1999; a 767-300ER in 2001 and a 777-200ER in 1999. ILFC says the order will allow it to fill "specific near-term customer requirements" while also strengthening deliveries scheduled for the 2001-2005 timeframe.
Mark Hooper, Boeing's director of international communications, promises that the $1 billion worth of orders will not be the end of the story this week. "There are more announcements coming in the next few days," he says. "Stay tuned."
Source: Flight Daily News
