SunExpress Orders Six Next-Generation Boeing 737s

Turkish airline SunExpress has placed an order with Boeing for six Next-Generation 737-800s. The order is worth approximately $460 million at list prices.

Founded in 1989 as a joint venture between Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa, SunExpress is a scheduled and charter carrier serving the Turkish tourist market.

The new airplanes will be equipped with performance-enhancing Blended Winglets, which will improve efficiency and reduce fuel consumption and are already installed across the airline's existing 737-800 fleet.

SunExpress operated its first Next-Generation 737, via a leasing company, in 2000. Since then it has grown its Next-Generation 737 fleet to 16 airplanes.

"We are proud and grateful to our shareholders Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa for supporting us in adding new aircraft to our fleet via direct purchase," said Paul Schwaiger, managing director, SunExpress. "These six new Boeing 737-800s will become great assets for our company while growing in domestic and international markets. The 737's stellar reputation for environmental friendliness and superior efficiency is an excellent fit for our business requirements."

Earlier this year, Boeing announced performance changes to the Next-Generation 737 that will reduce fuel consumption by 2% by 2011 through a combination of airframe and engine improvements. Airplane structural improvements will reduce drag on the airplane, reducing fuel use by about 1%. Boeing's engine partner, CFM, is contributing the other 1% fuel savings through hardware changes to its engine.

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