Boeing identifies KLM Order for Six Boeing Next-Generation 737s

Boeing confirmed Monday that KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, part of the Air France/KLM Group, placed several orders this year for a total of six Boeing Next-Generation 737s. These orders had been accounted for on Boeing's Orders and Deliveries website under the unidentified customer category. The order is valued at approximately US$423 million at list prices.

KLM converted six options for Boeing Next-Generation 737-800s to be delivered before mid-2008. The airplanes, which are equipped with fuel-efficient, emissions-reducing Blended Winglets, will replace several Classic 737s in KLM's fleet and allow for further growth.

Earlier this year, KLM also converted an existing order for three 777-200ERs to three 777-300ERs. Operating multiple models of the same airplane family gives the airline the flexibility to match the right airplane size to market demand. In a combination of leases and direct purchase, KLM will operate 18 Boeing 777s by 2009.

The 737-800, which can seat 162 to 189 passengers, is the best-selling version of the successful Next-Generation 737 family. The Next-Generation 737 has logged 560 net orders in 2006. As of October 31, 101 customers have placed orders for more than 3,500 Next-Generation 737s; the program has about 1,440 unfilled orders with a value of about US$96 billion at current list prices.

The 777-300ER carries 365 passengers in a standard three-class configuration up to 7,880 nautical miles (14,594 kilometers). Over the life of the 777 program, 43 customers worldwide have placed 852 orders for 777s. The program has about 261 unfulfilled orders worth about US$65 billion at current list prices.

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