Boeing

Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Turkmenistan Airlines recently finalized a definitive agreement for two Boeing 717-200 airplanes valued at $80 million at current list prices.

The airplanes will be delivered during August 2005. They will join Turkmenistan's fleet of passenger airplanes, which is currently five 717-200s, three 737-300s, and four 757-200s. The airline will operate the 717s primarily on domestic routes.

"The 717 is an excellent airplane which has helped us to complete our plan to replace Soviet-built airplanes with Boeing airplanes," said Baymurat Bayryev, chief executive officer of Turkmenistan Airlines. "Our passengers enjoy the comfort and innovative features that make travel on the Boeing 717 a great flying experience, and this is one of the reasons for adding more 717s to our fleet."

Turkmenistan Airlines' fleet modernization plan started in 1992 when the airline became the first in the Commonwealth of Independent States to order from Boeing.

"The 717 provides on-time departures for passengers and outstanding fuel economy and low operating costs for airlines," said Marlin Dailey, vice president of Sales, Europe & Central Asia, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "Turkmenistan Airlines has experienced the airplane's tremendous benefits, and this order is a reaffirmation of the Boeing 717's success in Turkmenistan Airline's operation."

The environmentally friendly 717-200, which reaches five years in revenue service on Oct. 12, brings full-size jetliner comfort, low operating costs and a dispatch reliability of better than 99 percent for operators worldwide. Boeing has received firm orders for 169 717s and has delivered 134 717 airplanes.