Boeing

A Boeing 717-200 passenger jet operated by AeBal S.A., a subsidiary of Spanair in Spain, arrived here today for the opening of this year's General Assembly of the European Regions Airline Association, or ERAA.

This is the first time a 717 is being showcased at the ERAA event, which brings together numerous representatives from European airlines, airports and companies.

"We are pleased to display and demonstrate for ERAA participants how the 717 brings the best to the 100-seat market," said Jim Phillips, Boeing Commercial Airplanes vice president of the 717 program. "The 717 is right-sized for Europe and is ready now with all the advantages that customers need."

The 717 will be on static display at the Salzburg Airport on Tuesday, Oct. 1, starting at 6 p.m. A demonstration flight for ERAA officials, invited guests and the media is scheduled for 9 p.m. The airplane will be on display Wednesday, Oct. 2, at 10 a.m., and then take airline presidents and other executives on a short flight. Jim Phillips is scheduled to conduct a 717 program media briefing on Oct. 2, 9:30 a.m., in the Press Center.

More than 100 of the clean and quiet Boeing twinjets have been delivered to customers on four continents. In Europe, customers include Aerolineas Baleares, Bavaria International Aircraft Leasing, Olympic Aviation, and Pembroke Capital Leasing.

The efficient 717 is specifically designed for short-haul, high-frequency, 100-passenger routes, making the airplane a perfect fit for the low-cost European regional airline market.

"The 717 offers superb seat-mile economics with unmatched reliability, revenue-generating capability, passenger appeal and environmental characteristics," said Jose Jaume, managing director and CEO of Aeolineas Baleares.

Two advanced BR 715 engines from Rolls-Royce Deutschland in Germany power the Boeing 717 and provide the lowest noise and emissions of any new airplane in its class. The 717's noise footprint is up to 12 times smaller than aircraft it will replace, and its emission levels are more than 50 percent below the 2004 International Civil Aviation Organization limits.

Alenia in Italy builds the 717's rugged fuselage, and Fischer Advanced Composites in Austria provides the airplane's spacious big-jet interior. Other European suppliers of components are based in the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain and Switzerland. Final assembly of the 717 takes place on a unique continuous moving line at the Boeing plant in Long Beach, Calif.

The 717 benefits from a tradition of twinjet design excellence. It was the first commercial airplane to receive concurrent and cooperative certification from United States and European aviation regulatory authorities. The airplane has continued to record high fleet-dispatch reliability and low maintenance costs after three years of passenger service.

Boeing is committed to the success of the 717, which currently has more customer orders and deliveries than any other new airplane in its class.