Boeing

The Boeing Company delivered Ansett Worldwide Aviation's first of five Boeing Next-Generation 737-700s today. The airplane will be leased to an as-yet-unannounced customer in Asia.

"The Next-Generation 737-700 is a great addition to our leasing fleet," said Charles Graham, chief executive officer - Ansett Worldwide. "It is a highly versatile airplane that meets a number of our customers' mission requirements. Given its in-service record to date, we are confident that the 737-700 will prove to be a very reliable, maintainable and economical airplane."

The 737 family is focused on delivering value to airlines in the form of reliability, simplicity and reduced operating and maintenance costs. The Next-Generation 737-600/-700/-800/-900 models offer flight deck commonality with earlier 737 models and allow flight crews to maintain the same type ratings.

Ansett Worldwide announced the order for the advanced-technology 737-700s at the 1996 Farnborough Air Show.

The Australia-based leasing company was formed in 1985 and took delivery of its first Boeing airplane in 1986. Over the years, Ansett Worldwide has ordered 165 Boeing jetliners, including Classic 737s, 757s, 767s and MD-80s. In less than 15 years, Ansett Worldwide has become The Boeing Company's third largest leasing company customer.

With 4,250 orders placed by customers worldwide, the Boeing 737 family is the best-selling commercial jetliner in the world.