Boeing

Air Berlin, a German inclusive-tour charter operator, has converted a pair of options placed earlier into a firm order for two 737-800s, Boeing Commercial Airplane Group confirmed today. Air Berlin also secured two additional 737-800 options.

The estimated value of the two orders, as well as the options, is $200 million, with deliveries scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2000. This brings Air Berlin's total 737-800 purchases to 10 firm orders and four options.

Air Berlin has operated Boeing airplanes since 1979. The airline flies routes between Berlin, Dresden, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Leipzig, Munster/Osnabruck, Nurnberg and Paderborn, the Mediterranean and Canary Islands.

In Air Berlin's configuration, the 737-800s will seat 184 passengers and will be used on all routes.

The Next-Generation 737 family continues to be the fastest-selling jetliner model in history. Since the program's launch, 40 customers have placed orders for 901 Next-Generation 737s.