Alaska Airlines orders two Boeing Next-Generation 737-800s

Alaska Airlines on Thursday announced it will buy two additional Boeing Next-Generation 737-800s in a deal valued at approximately 3 million.

The order by Alaska Airlines was made in June but was not announced until Thursday. Previously, Boeing attributed the sale of two Next-Generation 737-800s to an unidentified customer.

“Alaska Airlines continues to execute a successful and strategic vision based on its expansive fleet of efficient and reliable Next-Generation 737s,” said Marlin Dailey, vice president of Sales for Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “Alaska celebrated its transition to a single fleet in 2008 and with these additional orders, is truly reaping the benefits represented by its slogan, ‘Proudly all-Boeing.’

“Through its close partnership with Boeing, and working with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, Alaska Airlines is also expanding the use of advanced navigational and flight guidance procedures that leverage the superior performance capabilities of the Next-Generation 737. These procedures reduce flight times and congestion and result in lower fuel consumption and emissions into the environment,” Dailey added.

Alaska Airlines President Brad Tilden said his company’s financial performance has been strong. “Expanding our fleet with these two new 737-800s will not only help us fly more efficiently but also launch new service for our customers, provide positive returns for investors and ultimately, bring some of our furloughed employees back to work,” he said.

Including Thursday’s order, Alaska will take delivery of 13 Next-Generation 737s over the next several years. Alaska Airlines already has 116 737s in its fleet, including 55 737-800s.

The Boeing 737-800 is the best-selling version of the successful Next-Generation 737 family and to date, more than 125 of the company’s customers have placed orders for more than 5,400 Next-Generation 737s. Unfilled orders for the Next-Generation 737 exceed 2,000 airplanes, valued at more than 0 billion at average list prices.

On Wednesday, French airliner Air Austral, American Airlines, Chinese airliner Okay Airways and Qatar Airways announced it ordered numerous new Boeing aircraft in deals valued at a total of more than .3 billion.

The largest order announced on Wednesday was by American Airlines, which ordered 35 additional Boeing 737-800s. The deal is estimated to be worth around .5 billion, according to Boeing’s list prices.

The 35 newly ordered 737s are expected to be delivered in 2011 and 2012, and will be in addition to 84 new 737s that began entering American’s fleet in April 2009.

American Airlines says the 737s are 35 percent more fuel-efficient on a seat-mile basis than the MD80 aircraft that they are replacing. The 737s would save an average 800,000 gallons of fuel per aircraft per year.

The 737-800s ordered on Wednesday are equipped with Blended Winglets and are similar to those already installed on American’s fleet. Blended Winglets are wing tip extensions which provide significant operating, fuel efficiency and environmental benefits, including reduced noise on takeoff and approach and lower emissions through lower cruise thrust.

“Purchasing aircraft during challenging economic times is a major decision – a decision we don’t take lightly,” said Gerard Arpey, Chairman and CEO of AMR Corp., the parent company of American Airlines and American Eagle. “In the year that we’ve been operating these new 737s, we’ve seen they have improved our fuel efficiency, provided environmental and operational benefits, and enhanced the overall customer experience.”

Arpey also noted that American has been able to obtain a “backstop” financing commitment covering all 35 of these aircraft. Terms of the commitment were not disclosed.

“These additional aircraft will help continue to reduce our average fleet age and will also help us manage through future fuel price volatility, which continues to be a challenge for the entire industry,” Arpey said.

Including the 35 new orders and 84 737s that began arriving in 2009, American expects to have a total of 195 737-800s in its narrowbody fleet by the end of 2012.

“American Airlines is leveraging all the performance benefits of the Next-Generation 737 to stay competitive, while providing an enhanced passenger travel experience,” said Marlin Dailey, Vice President of Sales for Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “American’s investment in additional 737s demonstrates real confidence in the 737’s technology and economics. In addition, the new interiors on its existing 737 fleet and the new 737 Boeing Sky Interior on deliveries starting in 2011 will ensure American’s customers continue to enjoy an exceptional flying experience.”

These aircraft will include the new Boeing Sky Interior along with comfortable and spacious First and Economy Class seats, bigger overhead storage bins, updated inflight entertainment systems, and more AC power ports. Over time, American intends to equip all of its 737s with Gogo Inflight Internet service, which will allow passengers to surf the Web, check e-mail and send instant messages conveniently from the air.

Last month, American Airlines said it is updating its existing 737-800s to match the customer benefits and amenities featured on its newly-delivered 737-800 aircraft to improve the travel experience. The update effort began in May and the retrofitting is being done by American’s mechanics at its maintenance base in Tulsa, Okla.

Also on Wednesday, Air Austral ordered two Boeing Long Range 777-200LR Worldliners in a deal valued at 1 million. The airliner is based on the island nation of Reunion, which is a vacation locale in the South Indian Ocean and is renowned by outdoor adventurers for its mountainous volcanic interior.

“The 777-200LR is the only wide-body airplane that can fly non-stop to Paris with a full payload from our short runway on the island of Mayotte,” said Gerard Etheve, Air Austral chairman of the Board and CEO. “Because we currently operate 777-200ERs, the introduction of the 777-200LR to our fleet is an easy transition offering the same award-winning passenger experience, while using the same air crews and common operational support systems.”

Marlin Dailey, vice president of Sales for Boeing Commercial Airplanes, welcomed the sale and said Air Austral has a long experience with Boeing products. “Its current fleet of two 777-300ERs, three 777-200ERs and two 737s consistently delivers superior economic value and schedule reliability,” Dailey said.

In addition, Air Austral will receive two new 737-800s at the end of 2010, a third leased 777-300ER early next year as well as these two new 777-200LR in mid-2011 and 2012. The long-range 777-200LRs will add performance and capacity to help Air Austral meets its growth objectives, Boeing said.

The 777-200LR Worldliner is the newest passenger version of the 777 with a range of 9,395 nautical miles (17,395 kilometers). It can connect virtually any two cities in the world nonstop.

Additionally, Okay Airways announced at the Farnborough International Airshow in England that it has ordered 10 News-Generation 737-800s, in a deal valued at around 0 million.

Okay Airways is China’s first privately owned airline and already operates several Boeing aircraft. “Okay Airways is a firm believer in the Next-Generation 737-800, which is the backbone of our fleet and has proved its reliability and efficiency on a daily basis,” said Wang Shusheng, chairman of Okay Airways. “The new additions will help us expand our domestic routes and even explore regional markets.”

Okay Airways, an all-Boeing operator, obtained Civil Aviation Administration of China’s (CAAC) approval and started commercial operation in March 2005. Okay Airways is headquartered in Beijing and uses Tianjin Binhai International Airport as its fleet base.

It currently operates four 737s, including three 737-800s and one 737-300 converted freighter, on trunk routes with direct flights to more than 20 domestic destinations.

Okay Airways also will lease four 737-800s this year, and plans to expand its fleet by leasing five 737-800s each year prior to the new delivery.

“Okay Airways has been a dedicated operator of Boeing 737s since it was established. Boeing is honored that 10 more 737-800s will join Okay Airways’ fleet to support its strategy in this fast-growing market,” said Marlin Dailey, vice president of Sales & Marketing at Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “We look forward to continuing our partnership with Okay Airways, which started with the Next-Generation 737-800.”

The Boeing 737-800 is the best-selling version of the successful Next-Generation 737 family and Boeing announced in June that it will increase production rates on the Next-Generation 737 program to 35 airplanes a month in 2012 to meet continued strong demand.

Further on Wednesday, Qatar Airways announced it has ordered two additional Boeing 777-200LRs aircraft, in a deal valued at around 1 million at average list prices.

Qatar Airways, based in Doha, Qatar, already operates six 777-200LRs, 11 777-300ERs and two 777 Freighters. Including Wednesday’s order, Qatar Airways has 10 777s in unfilled orders.

“The 777 has become the cornerstone of our fleet,” said Akbar Al Baker, Qatar Airways’ CEO. “It is a tool for profitability but also a platform for delivering the highest customer satisfaction. Its service reliability and cabin architecture, coupled with our innovative interiors and world-class in-flight service, have made the 777 the airplane of choice for our passengers.”

Qatar took delivery of its first 777 Freighter last May.

“In its first few months of operation the 777 Freighter is performing as promised by Boeing and as we expected,” Al Baker said. “It’s meeting operating-economics targets and is well on its way to helping us grow the freight transport piece of our business.”

Qatar also has thirty 787 Dreamliners on order, and Wednesday announced it has accelerated 787 deliveries to support its goal of serving 120 key business and leisure destinations worldwide by 2013.

“Qatar Airways is one of the true five-star airlines in the world with an unparalleled fleet and outstanding service,” said Jim Albaugh, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “We look forward to a continued partnership as Qatar expands its position on the international stage.”

source : BNO News