Boeing

Southwest Airlines has ordered 59 more Boeing 737-700 jets, Boeing Commercial Airplane Group confirmed today. With this announcement, firm Boeing orders by the Next-Generation 737 launch customer total 129. Total orders for the Next-Generation 737s now stand at 811.

Southwest's entire fleet of jets consists of Boeing 737s. The airline is the largest customer of the world's most popular commercial jetliner. This order also makes Southwest Airlines the largest customer of the best-selling Next-Generation 737s.

Southwest's Chairman, President and CEO Herbert D. Kelleher said, "Our increased commitment to Boeing's Next-Generation 737-700 aircraft will significantly contribute to our ability to remain the lowest-cost producer in the U.S. airline industry."

The Next-Generation 737s deliver more value to customers in the form of reliability, simplicity and reduced operating and maintenance costs. The "faster, farther, higher" 737s will be powered by CFM56-7 engines, which is standard for the Next-Generation model.

"We are delighted with Southwest's continued confidence with the Boeing Next-Generation 737," said Ron Woodard, president of Boeing Commercial Airplane Group. "And we are committed to providing an airplane that will meet Southwest's needs well into the next century."

This firm order extends Southwest's current deliveries through the year 2004.