Boeing

Boeing [NYSE: BA] and the Austrian Airlines Group recently finalized an order for one Boeing Next-Generation 737-800. The airplane, to be delivered next year, will be used by Austrian's Lauda Air. With this order, Austrian continues its fleet standardization plans.

This is an existing order that has been accounted for in cumulative totals published by Boeing. Until today, however, the customer for the order was unidentified.

The Vienna-based Lauda Air currently operates four 737-800s, all equipped with performance-enhancing Blended Winglets.

"The Next-Generation 737 family has demonstrated its reliability and efficiency worldwide," said Thomas Kleibl, Austrian Airlines Group's chief financial officer. "The 737-800s in our fleet bring our airline and our passengers a number of benefits."

Austrian Airlines Group, which consists of Austrian Airlines, Lauda Air and Austrian Arrow, already has three other 737-800s on order.

"This additional order is a reaffirmation of the demonstrated success of the 737s already operated by the Austrian Airlines Group," said Marlin Dailey, vice president of European Sales, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "The 737-800's unparalleled economics, performance and leading-edge technology well support Austrian's stated goals for growth and profitability."

The 737-800's Blended Winglets, which curve out and up from the wingtips, boost performance, allowing the airplane to fly 240 kilometers (130 nautical miles) farther.

In all aspects, the 737-800 is environmentally friendly. The entire family of Next-Generation 737 airplanes meets current international emissions limits for hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, smoke and nitrogen oxides. All Boeing 737s manufactured today are also quieter than the noise limits required by the international standards established for 2006.