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BY OUR AVIATION CORRESPONDENT
4 August, 2005: Boeing Company has launched its 737-900ER, an upgraded version of its existing 737 aircraft, with a passenger capacity of 215 in a single-class layout. The new aircraft has a capacity to carry 26 additional passengers compared with the existing 737 Boeings, a feature that would make the aircraft the darling of low-cost airlines.
The aircraft manufacturer has already bagged orders for 60 planes from Lion Air, a low-cost airline in Indonesia, with a firm order for 30 planes and an option to purchase additional 30 jets, under a deal worth $3.9 billion at list price. The delivery of the first of the new series is scheduled to begin by the first half of 2007.
The company is also negotiating a deal for 737-900ER with Spice Jet, a low cost airline in India. The deal, if materialized, would be for 10 planes, with five firm orders and five optional.
The 737-900ER is of the same size as the present 737-900, but has an additional pair of exit doors and a flat rear-pressure bulkhead.
"The Next-Generation 737 is the most efficient single-aisle airplane family today, and we are thrilled to have Lion Air as the launch customer to increase the 737 family's capability with the additional range and seating of the 737-900ER," Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and chief executive officer Alan Mulally said.
Powered by the CFM International CFM56-7B turbofan engines, the new jet has nine per cent lower operating costs per trip and seven per cent lower operating costs per seat than the A321, which is more than 10,000 pounds heavier than the 737-900ER.
Aerodynamic and structural design changes, including strengthened wings, a two-position tailskid, enhancements to the leading and trailing edge flap systems, and optional Blended Winglets and auxiliary fuel tanks, will allow the 737-900ER to accommodate higher takeoff weights and increase its range to 3,200 nautical miles (5,900 km), making it comparable to the 737-800's range, a company statement said.
The Next-Generation 737s are 10 years newer and fly higher, faster, farther and more quietly than competing models. To date, 86 airlines have placed orders for more than 2,700 Next-Generation 737s, it added.
BY OUR AVIATION CORRESPONDENT
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