Boeing has confirmed the sale of 10 737-800s to Xiamen Airlines as a historic landmark for the aircraft program, which has now surpassed 6,000 orders.
“This is an amazing milestone that reflects how much our customers appreciate the 737’s technology, efficiency, safety and profit-making capability,” says Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and CEO Alan Mulally in a statement.
“We are especially pleased to have Xiamen as the customer for this historic order, which also is a testament to our approach to designing and building the airplanes airlines want and that will deliver value to them for many, many years.”
The order from Xiamen Airlines and subsequent orders from unidentified customers bring the 737’s sales total to 6,025. “No other jet airplane in commercial aviation history has achieved the sales success of the 737,” notes Boeing.
Of the 6,025 orders, 3,132 aircraft were from the -100/-200/-300/-400/-500 variants. The remaining 2,893 are from the newer models of 737, which include the -600, -700, -800 and -900 variants.
Xiamen Airlines will take delivery of its 737-800s from mid-2006.
“This order allows us to simplify our fleet with the most cost-efficient and superior-performance airplane in its class,” says president, Xiamen Airlines president Yang Guanghua. “The Boeing 737 will help us meet our goal of reducing operating costs and increasing return on investment for our shareholders. Additionally, with its passenger-pleasing interior, the new 737s will carry our customers in utmost comfort on all our domestic routes.”
DARREN SHANNON / WASHINTON DC
Kieran Daly wonders what Boeing and Airbus do next in the narrowbody world. Here's his blog.
Source: Flight International
