Boeing delivers the 5,000th 737 to Southwest Airlines

Boeing and Southwest Airlines celebrated Monday the 5,000th 737 to come off the production line as thousands of Boeing employees and special guests attended an historic delivery ceremony at the company's Renton, Wash., manufacturing facility.

"The 737 is an icon of efficiency in air travel and one of commercial aviation's greatest success stories," said Alan Mulally, president and chief executive officer of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "We are absolutely thrilled that the world's largest 737 operator -- Southwest Airlines -- is the owner of this historic airplane. Our partnership with Southwest and hundreds of other 737 customers has resulted in continuous improvements to the 737 and its ability to help our customers be successful."

The 5,000th 737, a 737-700 painted in Southwest Airlines colors, is the 447th 737 to join the carrier's fleet. Southwest has helped launch three Boeing 737 models -- the 737-300, -500 and the -700.

"Southwest Airlines has been a proud Boeing customer for nearly 35 years, growing our 737 fleet to 445 at the end of 2005," said Laura Wright, chief financial officer, Southwest Airlines. "We'll take delivery of 33 more Boeing 737s in 2006, supporting our continued growth across America."

More than 541 operators fly 737s into more than 1,200 cities in 190 countries. It is estimated that approximately 1,250 737s are in the air at any given moment, with one taking off or landing every 4.6 seconds.

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