Boeing

One year after its rollout debut, the Boeing 777-300 departed today for the 1998 Farnborough Air Show. Boeing Commercial Airplane Group will showcase the airplane as part of a display demonstrating the breadth of Boeing products available to the aerospace industry.

Shown in the distinctive orchid, rose, gold and white paint scheme of Thai Airways International (THAI), the airplane is powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 892 engines. The airplane, "Sriwanna," was named in honor of a now-retired THAI 747. Sriwanna was originally named by His Majesty, King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand.

The Boeing 777-300 offers all the new features of passenger comfort found in the 777-200 - including cabin spaciousness and flexibility. At 242 feet, four inches (73.9 m), the 777-300 is 33 feet (10 m) longer than the original 777-200 model. The added length increases the airplane's passenger capacity by 20 percent. The aircraft can carry 394 passengers in a typical three-class configuration, 479 passengers in a typical two-class configuration, or as many as 550 passengers in an all-economy layout.

To illustrate the interior flexibility of the 777-300, the airplane has been especially configured for the 1998 Farnborough Air Show with 290 seats: 24 first-class; 60 business-class; and 206 economy-class seats.

The 777-300 has nearly the same passenger capacity and range capability as the 747-100/-200 models, but burns one-third less fuel and has 40 percent lower maintenance costs. The overall result for airlines is cash operating costs that are one-third below early-model 747s.

THAI was one of four airlines that launched the 777-300 program at the 1995 Paris Air Show. To date, 27 customers worldwide have placed orders for 429 777s.