Boeing

Icelandair, the flag carrier of Iceland, will purchase two 757-200s, The Boeing Company confirmed today. The order is valued at an estimated $131 million. The purchase is in addition to three 757s currently on order.

The airline announced its purchase of four 757s at the 1997 Paris Air Show and took delivery of its first 757 earlier this year. The initial order, two 757-200s and two 757-300s, made Icelandair one of the launch customers for the 757-300. Icelandair has been operating 757s since 1990. The airline's fleet consists of five 757-200s and five 737s.

"The 757 program has been very successful for us as an airline," said Icelandair President and Chief Executive Officer Sigurdur Helgason. "The economics of the airplane are tremendous and allow us to offer our passengers a high-quality, high-service airplane."

The 757-200 and 757-300 have the lowest seat-mile cost of any single-aisle airplane. Icelandair will configure its 757-200s to seat 189 passengers.

"We're honored by the confidence Icelandair continues to show in the 757 program," said Tom Basacchi, vice president - Europe/Russia Sales, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "They are a well-managed airline which is experiencing very healthy growth. The 757s will serve them well."

Icelandair has one of the youngest fleets of any international carrier. The airline flies to 24 international destinations with direct flights providing a transatlantic link from six gateways in the United States and Canada to 18 European cities.