From Staff Reports

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Nov. 8, 2010 /PRNewswire/ — Boeing (NYSE: BA) and Saudi Arabian Airlines announced an order for 12 Boeing 777-300ERs (extended range), with an option for 10 more. This order previously was attributed to an unidentified customer on Boeing’s orders and deliveries website. The order is valued at $3.3 billion at average list prices.
Saudi Arabian Airlines also announced an order for eight Boeing 787 Dreamliners for its long haul fleet. The airline completed an arrangement with Boeing and Kuwait-based leasing company ALAFCO to transfer orders for the eight Dreamliners from ALAFCO to Saudi Arabian Airlines.

The 777-300ER is the world’s largest long-range twin-engine jetliner, and is capable of carrying up to 365 passengers up to 7,930 nautical miles (14,685 km). Saudi Arabian currently owns and operates 23 Boeing 777-200ERs.

“Our decision to order the 777-300ER is part of a long-term growth strategy to expand and modernize our fleet with newer, more fuel-efficient airplanes, and is based on the airplane’s proven efficiencies,” said H.E. Eng. Khaled Al-Mulhim, director general of Saudi Arabian Airlines. “We see direct benefit because of the 777-300ER’s improved fuel efficiency, seat-mile costs and the economics of operating a twin-engine airplane over long distances.”

Saudi Arabian Airlines took delivery of its first 777, a 777-200ER in December 1997 and since then has deployed the 777 on a number of short-, medium- and long-haul routes.

“Saudi Arabian Airlines is one of Boeing’s very first customers in the Middle East, with a relationship that goes back several decades,” said Jim Albaugh, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “In fact, in 1961 Boeing was privileged to have witnessed Saudi Arabia’s entry into the jet age with a Boeing 707 when it became the first in the Middle East to operate a jet airplane. Today’s order is yet another milestone in our relationship and is also a powerful endorsement of 777, which is one of our most successful airplanes to date.”

The 777-300ER first entered service in May 2004 and since then through October 2010, 251 777-300ERs have been delivered. The airplane extends the 777 family’s span of capabilities, bringing twin-engine efficiency and reliability to the long-range market.

“Saudi Arabian Airlines is a key customer and a strategic partner in the region for Boeing and we aim to continue solidifying this relationship with the airline,” said Ahmed Jazzar, president of Boeing Saudi Arabia and vice president, Boeing International. “We are also committed to continued partnership with the Saudi government, enterprises and customers in their long-term plans to develop aerospace infrastructure and capabilities in the Kingdom.”

Air China Boeing 737-800

Photo by boeingdreamscape

SEATTLE, July 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Boeing (NYSE: BA), the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and Air China today celebrated the delivery of the 800th Boeing airplane for China – a Boeing Next-Generation 737-800 to Air China.
“Boeing and China have had a long-standing and productive partnership since 1972,” said Wang Changshun, deputy administrator of CAAC. “CAAC and Boeing have broad cooperation in safety, flight standards, airworthiness and new technologies, etc. We hope we will continue to further strengthen this win-win partnership.”
In 1972, CAAC ordered 10 Boeing 707s, establishing it as a major world airline. Today, Boeing jets are the mainstay of China’s air travel and cargo system. More than 50 percent of all the commercial jetliners operating in China are Boeing airplanes.
“The history of working together between Boeing and Air China dates back to 37 years ago. We have created a mutual benefit through our long-term partnership,” said Zhang Lan, vice president of Air China. “Taking the delivery of the 800th Boeing airplane on behalf of all the Chinese airlines marks another significant moment in this great partnership.”
Air China, China’s national flag air carrier, is the largest air carrier based in mainland China in terms of Air China’s international traffic and size of its twin-aisle fleet.
“We have witnessed the rapid development of the aviation industry in China. We are honored to be part of the development by providing our best products and services,” said Jim Simon, vice president of Sales for China, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “We are also proud that China has a sophisticated and expanding role in the commercial aviation industry and on all Boeing commercial airplane models including the 787 Dreamliner.”
Since the 1980s, Boeing has purchased more than $1.5 billion in aviation hardware and services from China and will double that in coming years. More than 5,700 Boeing airplanes currently in service include Chinese-made parts.
Contact:
Wang Yukui
Boeing China
+86 10 5925 5588
yukui.wang@boeing.com
Photo and caption are available here: http://boeing.mediaroom.com/
SOURCE Boeing
http://www.boeing.com

Boeing gets a $1.6 Billion order from Turkish Airlines

Marketwatch reports that Boeing received an order of 20 B737 jets from Turkish Airlines. The order is split evenly between 737-800s and 737-900ER models.

“The 737-800 is the backbone of the Turkish Airlines fleet and proves its value on a daily basis offering unmatched levels of efficiency and reliability,” Marlin Dailey, vice president of Sales, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said.

“The 737-900ER will fit seamlessly into Turkish Airlines’ operations, sharing the same pilots, systems and nearly 100 percent spares commonality with the airlines’ current Next-Generation 737 fleet. We are also very proud to provide Turkish Airlines’ new 737s with the Boeing Sky Interior, which will be a perfect complement to the carrier’s high levels of service and passenger comfort.”

Photo: Ramanathan.Kathiresan

More airlines expected to add wifi service

According to a report in The Star Online, more airlines are planning on adding wifi service to their flights in the coming years. After they add wifi, they want to add cell phone service as well. We can bid goodbye to the days of not having to sit next to a blathering idiot on their cell phone making sure that everyone on the plane knows just how important they think they are.

Thai Airlines looking to lease 2-4 additional jets

The Bangkok Post reports that Thai needs additional planes to meet with rising demand and deal with a delay in new aircraft deliveries. Apparently, Thai was supposed to have received additional 5 A330-300s but the delivery has been indefinitely delayed due to problems with the seats.

The contractor in charge of putting the seats in the economy section of the planes, a company named Koito Industries, can’t get the seats certified for safety. By the way, Koito Industries, is based in Yokohama and is owned by Toyota.

Thai is looking for a 3 year lease on Boeing 777-300ER types configured in 3 classes with a business class area that has fold flat seats. They want to lease from other airlines because they think they can get a better deal that way. The planes are needed to service increased demand in their European routes.

Boeing 777 at Kansai Airport
Photo: yasushi00