Boeing

Hapag-Lloyd Flug, the German holiday airline, has exercised options to purchase three additional Boeing Next-Generation 737-800 jetliners, The Boeing Company confirmed today.

These are existing orders that have been accounted for in cumulative totals published by Boeing. Until today, however, the customer for the order was unidentified.

Boeing is scheduled to deliver the three airplanes to Hapag-Lloyd Flug in 2002. The carrier will use the new 737s on routes throughout Europe and the Mediterranean.

Hapag-Lloyd Flug, the airline that launched the Boeing 737-800 program in 1994, already has ordered 25 737-800s - in addition to these three. Of those, 21 have been delivered. The carrier is using the new 737-800 models to replace the older 737-400s and 737-500s in its fleet.

"Besides having superior reliability and comfort, the 737 is an outstanding, clean and quiet neighbor," said Wolfgang Kurth, Hapag-Lloyd Flug managing director and board member. "This helps us to achieve the goals of our environmental strategy."

Building a quieter, more fuel-efficient airplane was a top priority for Boeing engineers designing the Next-Generation 737 family. The new, advanced-technology wing design on the models helps improve fuel efficiency. The model's new CFM56-7 engines produced by CFMI, a joint venture of General Electric Co. of the U.S. and Snecma of France, meet community noise restrictions well below current Stage 3 limits and below expected Stage 4 limits. Emissions also are reduced beyond required standards.

The fuel consumption of Hapag-Lloyd Flug's 737-800s is as low as 2.3 liters per 100 seat-kilometers. Hapag-Lloyd Flug is the first airline to equip its fleet of Next-Generation 737-800s with the new blended winglets, which will improve fuel consumption and emissions. Noise levels at takeoff will be lower, too.

The Next-Generation 737s also have an all-new Boeing 777-style interior that makes the passenger cabin seem more spacious. Both the overhead stow bins and the sculptured ceiling have smoother curves, giving the cabin a more open feeling.

"This year, Boeing received more than 375 orders for Next-Generation 737s, more than that for the directly competing family of airplanes," said Seddik Belyamani, Commercial Airplanes executive vice president - Sales. "We are grateful to Hapag-Lloyd Flug for contributing to the success of the Next-Generation 737 family."