Boeing

Standing beside a new 737 fuselage prior to assembly at Boeing's [NYSE: BA] 737 factory, several hundred Boeing employees recently commemorated the history-making 7,000th Boeing 737 order by forming a giant "7,000" spanning an area about the length of two airplanes.

Jakarta-based Lion Air placed the history making order when it announced an order for 40 additional 737-900ER (Extended Range) airplanes at the Paris Air Show in June, which brought the airline's total announced orders for the 737-900ER to 100.

"The 737 is the most technologically advanced single-aisle airplane that offers the best technical reliability and lowest operating unit cost in its class," said Paul Dubeck, Boeing Commercial Airplanes senior director, Sales. "Airline operators around the world have been maximizing the unprecedented economic advantages of the 737 for many years, and we are thrilled to have Lion Air mark this historic occasion with Boeing."

Lion Air operates an all-Boeing fleet and is the largest low-cost airline in Asia, with traffic approaching 1 million passengers per month since the airline began operations in June 2000. The airline was the launch customer for the Next-Generation 737-900ER airplane, Boeing's newest 737 model.

The 737 is the most successful commercial airplane family in history. Boeing has more than 1,600 unfilled orders for the Next-Generation 737 worth more than $100 billion at current list prices.