SCANDINAVIAN AIRLINES SYSTEM TAKES DELIVERY OF BOEING NEXT-GENERATION 737-800 WITH INTRA-EURO INTERIOR DESIGN

Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS), the national carrier of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, has taken delivery of its 11th Boeing Next-Generation 737-800. The airplane is the airline's first with the new versatile, passenger-pleasing intra-Euro cabin configuration.

The new SAS 737-800 interior configuration features a new seating system developed by Boeing that allows airlines to vary the number of seats in business and economy classes, depending on demand. These powered, "variable-geometry" seats easily can be converted from standard six-abreast economy seating rows to a more spacious five-abreast business-class configuration, enabling SAS to tailor its service more precisely to meet passenger needs. The SAS 737-800 will seat 132 to 150 passengers and feature a popular extra-large lavatory with two windows in business class.

"The flexible Boeing 737-800 with Intra-Euro interior enables SAS to operate to the Scandinavian capitals triangle and other major European destinations efficiently. Both customers and staff appreciate the interior design of the intra-Euro 737-800," said Karin Strömberg, vice president and head of SAS network management.

The Next-Generation 737 models build on the strengths that have made the 737 the world's most successful commercial airplane, while incorporating improvements designed for the 21st century. These improvements include a new and larger wing, higher cruise speed, more range and new engines with improvements in noise, fuel burn and thrust.

"The 737-800 in this configuration is the perfect combination of versatility, comfort, reliability and reduced operating costs that SAS needs for its particular market needs," said Toby Bright, senior vice president-Europe and Russia, Boeing Commercial Airplanes Group. "We are pleased to be delivering yet another 737 to this valued customer."

SAS also operates 30 Next-Generation 737-600s and six Next-Generation

737-700s, in addition to 13 767s. The airline is scheduled to receive nine more Next-Generation 737 airplanes in the near future.

Customers worldwide have placed orders for more than 4,800 737s, and nearly 3,800 737s have been delivered. About 1,000 737s are in the air at any time, with one taking off every 5.5 seconds.