Boeing

Air Pacific Airlines, the flag-carrier of Fiji, took delivery of its first Next-Generation 737-700, The Boeing Company announced today.

Based in Nadi - a major city on Viti Levu, the largest of the Fiji islands - Air Pacific has been a Boeing customer since 1981, when it took delivery of its first jetliner, a 737-200. The carrier is the launch operator for the Next-Generation models in the South Pacific. The 737-700 forms the nucleus of the airline's plan to increase the frequency of its flights between island destinations and major cities in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States. Air Pacific now carries more than 50 percent of all visitors to Fiji, as well as 64 percent of the cargo traffic.

"We are proud to be part of the continued success of Air Pacific and honored they have chosen to maintain an all-Boeing fleet," said Seddik Belyamani, vice president - International Sales for Boeing Commercial Airplane Group. "The airline recognizes the strengths of the 737 family. Air Pacific will enhance its operation with the acquisition of these new, market-leading twinjets."

The 737-700 delivers more value to airlines in the form of reliability, simplicity and reduced operating and maintenance costs.

The Next-Generation 737 program is the fastest-selling commercial airplane program in history with more than 1,000 sold since it became available in 1994. Total orders for the entire 737 family number more than 4,000, making it the best-selling commercial jetliner of all time.