Boeing

The Boeing Company [NYSE:BA] announced today that FedEx Express, a unit of FedEx Corp., has ordered 15 Boeing 777 Freighters and that the Memphis, Tenn.-based freight carrier has taken options on an additional 15 of the airplanes. Delivery of the aircraft will begin in 2009.

"We're looking forward to working with FedEx on this new chapter in our relationship. The 777F will have unmatched capacity for a twin-engine freighter and is a perfect complement to the existing FedEx fleet of aircraft," said Ray Conner, Boeing Commercial Airplanes vice president of Sales for the Americas.

The 777F, the world's longest-range twin-engine freighter, is based on the 777-200LR Worldliner (Longer Range) passenger airplane. Over the life of the 777 program, 44 customers worldwide have placed 866 orders for all versions of the 777. Since its launch in 2005, the 777 Freighter program has won orders for 38 aircraft from five customers.