Boeing

EVA Airways Corp. of Taiwan will expand its fleet of Boeing MD-11 Freighters with an order for two airplanes for delivery in 1999, Boeing Commercial Airplane Group announced today.

The order was signed during a ceremony in which the airline also accepted the first of two MD-11 Freighters being delivered in 1997. Not counting the current delivery, EVA operates three MD-11 passenger airplanes and three MD-11Fs, primarily on routes across the Pacific Ocean to destinations in North America and from Asia to Europe. Earlier this year, EVA ordered two MD-11 Freighters for 1998 delivery.

The new order brings EVA's total of MD-11s in operation or on firm order to twelve.

"It is fitting that EVA is placing the first MD-11 Freighter order after our recent decision to continue the MD-11 production and emphasize the freighter version," said Dick Pearson, vice president-general manager of the Douglas Products Division in Long Beach. "EVA has been a steady MD-11 customer for a number of years, with their trijets operating more than 11 hours per day and with more than 99 percent dispatch reliability."

The MD-11F can carry more than 90 tons of payload on nonstop flights exceeding 4,300 nautical miles (6,900 km). It can accommodate more than 100 tons maximum payload on shorter routes.

The newly accepted MD-11 Freighter departed for Taiwan a few hours after the signing ceremony.

The order by EVA brings to 46 the total number of MD-11 freighters and convertible freighters delivered and on firm order.