Boeing

The Boeing Company today announced it has reached an agreement with International Lease Finance Corporation. (ILFC) for up to 100 Next-Generation 737s. The agreement consists of 50 firm orders and a reconfirmable block for 50 additional airplanes.

Steven F. Udvar-Hazy, president and chief executive officer of ILFC, noted that the Boeing 737 is an important component of the company's fleet portfolio. This announcement also assures ILFC's strong 737 order and delivery positions beyond 2001, where the company foresees solid growth and replacement of the Classic 737 series, 727s, some DC-9 series and MD-80s.

These airplanes were listed as being from an "unidentified customer" in cumulative order totals published by Boeing on Dec. 15. ILFC first made public its intent to order these airplanes in June at the Paris Air Show.

"ILFC has played a key role leasing and marketing advanced-technology commercial airplanes to airlines around the world and expanding the customer base of the Next-Generation 737," said Alan Mulally, president - Boeing Commercial Airplanes Group. "This again validates the airplane's performance, as well as the broad market acceptance and reliability of the 737."

ILFC already has introduced the 737 at many different airline operators around the world, including placing the first Next-Generation 737s in China, Latin America, the United Kingdom and the Caribbean. Today's announcement brings ILFC's total orders for the 737 family to 337.