Boeing

The Boeing Company today concluded a two-day conference in Warsaw, Poland, designed to build relationships and create networking opportunities for more than 20 airlines -- most of them from Central Europe -- as well as Boeing executives, leasing companies and engine manufacturers. Representatives from nearly 15 countries participated.

"We wanted to bring the airlines of the region and the aviation industry together to better understand our collective and individual business goals and challenges," said Marlin Dailey, vice president of Sales for Europe, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "We've had intensive discussions about how Boeing and other companies can help our customers meet growing air-traffic demand with high-value products and services."

Airlines participating in the conference, the second held by Boeing in Central Europe in the past two years, included CSA Czech, JAT Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, Malev, and Travel Servis.

Boeing is the leading airplane supplier in Central Europe, having delivered approximately 70 percent of all new and used commercial jetliners since 1988. In 2003 alone, 17 of the 18 airplanes (in the size range of 70 seats or more) placed in the region have been Boeing.

"As a committed and valued partner for the last 15 years, we know our Central European customers very well, but it is vital we stay in tune with emerging developments, especially as many parts of the region are on the verge of joining the European Union," Dailey said. "This and an increasingly de-regulated market will lead to new opportunities and new challenges for all of us."

Boeing is broadly integrated in the European aerospace industry. Its network of more than 600 European partners and suppliers provides components, services and systems valued between US$4 and US$5 billion every year and supports thousands of jobs across the region.