May 14 2008 03:24:59:317PM
Boeing Delivers 300th Jetliner to GECAS for Lease to XL Airways
Source:
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- XL Airways receives its first Boeing 737-900ER
SEATTLE, May 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA)
and GE Commercial Aviation Services (GECAS) on Tuesday celebrated the
delivery of the leasing company's 300th Boeing jetliner, a Next-Generation
737-900ER (Extended Range) airplane, that GECAS customer XL Airways will
operate under lease. The airplane, shown here during a test flight, is
equipped with performance-enhancing Blended Winglets, which improve fuel
efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions by up to 4 percent, and will be the
first 737-900ER to join the XL Airways fleet.
GECAS, the U.S. and Irish commercial aircraft financing and leasing
businesses of GE, ordered its first Boeing airplane, a 767-300ER, in August
1995, and has ordered 433 Boeing airplanes to date including 737 Classics,
Next-Generation 737s, 747s, 757s, 767s and 777s. Currently, it has a fleet
of 1,475 owned aircraft it leases to more than 230 airlines in 70
countries.
The 737-900ER has substantial economic advantages over competing
models, including 6 percent lower operating costs per trip and 4 percent
lower operating costs per seat mile than its competitor -- which is more
than 9,550 pounds (4,340 kg) heavier. The 737-900ER is the latest airplane
to join the Next-Generation 737 family, which includes the 737-600, -700,
-700ER and -800, and shares the same industry-leading reliability of the
other Next-Generation series models.
XL Airways is a charter airline based in the UK and is part of the XL
Leisure Group, the third largest travel group in the UK. The airline flies
to more than 100 destinations across three continents with a fleet of 37
aircraft.
Neg. K64376-03