Boeing

Boeing [NYSE: BA] made history today with its Next-Generation 737 family reaching 1,500 airplanes delivered sooner than any other commercial airplane model.

The milestone delivery -- a 737-800 to Indianapolis-based ATA Airlines, Inc., on lease from International Lease Finance Corp. (ILFC) -- occurred six years after Southwest Airlines received the first Next-Generation 737. The Next-Generation 737 family bested by four years the previous record holder, Boeing's family of Classic 737-300s, -400s and -500s.

"This is a testament to the Next-Generation 737's efficiency and reliability; the confidence and trust the world's airlines have in it; and the efforts of our employees who design, build and support the 737 every day," said Carolyn Corvi, Boeing 737/757 programs vice president and general manager.

Vice President, Marketing, Randy Baseler, added, "We know better than any other airplane company what airlines and passengers want. That's why the 737 is history's best-selling passenger airplane and why the 7E7 will set a whole new standard for passenger comfort and airplane efficiency."

The Boeing 727 and Airbus A320 models are the only others to have delivered at least 1,500 airplanes. The A320 family, the 737 competitor, reached that mark in 13 years while the 727 did so in 16 years.

Reliability, low operating and maintenance costs, and advanced technologies such as Head-Up and Vertical Situation displays not available on competing models, are hallmarks of the Next-Generation 737 family.

Overall, Boeing has received orders for more than 5,390 737s. That's more than Airbus has for all its models. At any given time, more than 1,200 737s are flying, and a 737 takes off or lands somewhere in the world every 5.3 seconds.

The Next-Generation 737 family includes the 737-600, -700, -800 and -900 airplanes. The 737-100 through 737-500 airplanes are no longer produced.

Beverly Hills-based ILFC is one of the largest customers for Boeing Commercial Airplanes and has ordered 214 Next-Generation 737s, the second most of any customer.

Visit the 737 website to learn more about the Boeing 737.