Boeing

Two - Going On Three - Boeing 737-800s For City Bird

City Bird S.A. today took delivery of its second Boeing Next Generation 737-800 in two weeks, and another is due for delivery on May 14. The popular Belgian carrier will receive a total of six 737-800s by March 2002. City Bird is the first Belgian airline to operate the 737-800.

The airplane delivered today is being leased from GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS), a GE Capital Company. The first airplane and the one that delivers May 14 are being leased from Boullioun Aviation.

"The 737-800 is an integral part of City Bird's strategy of offering high-quality holiday flights with in-flight service that includes meal service," said City Bird CEO Victor Hasson. "In addition, we have equipped them with the latest sound and video technology and comfortable leather seats."

City Bird's policy is to fly airplanes of the latest generation in order to maintain better reliability, lower maintenance and fuel costs and the highest levels of customer satisfaction. Their 737-800s will have a one-class configuration and carry 189 passengers.

"With the lowest operating costs in its class and a nearly perfect dispatch reliability rate, the 737 is the ideal airplane for City Bird," said Toby Bright, vice president of Sales, Europe/Russia, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "It enables them to keep operating costs low and at the same time provide their passengers with on-time, comfortable service. As an added bonus, they can fly airplanes that far exceed noise restriction standards."

This is the first 737-800 GECAS is leasing to City Bird.

"The delivery of this new Boeing 737-800 marks a new stage in GECAS's ongoing relationship with City Bird, to whom we currently lease a Boeing 737-400," said Henry Hubschman, president of GECAS. "The GE relationship with Victor Hasson and (City Bird CEO) Georges Gutelman stretches back over 20 years. Throughout that time they have consistently demonstrated an ability to innovate in the marketplace and offer top quality products to their customers. We are delighted that they have chosen GECAS as a partner."

GECAS is an important Boeing customer, offering the 747, 767, 757 and several models of the 737 to operators worldwide. GECAS is a global aviation solutions provider offering financing for short- and long-term equipment needs, acquisition financing, aircraft remarketing and sale/lease-back arrangements. GECAS is headquartered in Stamford, Conn., and has regional offices in New York, Miami, Hong Kong, Singapore, Beijing, Tokyo, Luxembourg, Vienna, Austria and Shannon, Ireland.

The 737-800, which can fly up to 2,905 nautical miles (5,380 kilometers) in a one-class configuration, features an all-new, spacious Boeing 777-style interior. It has the most advanced-design technology in the single-aisle market, such as an all-new wing and updated liquid-crystal displays in the flight deck.

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 United States 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.

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For further information:
Kathy Hanser
Sales
206-766-2911
Carrie Thearle
737