FORTY-ONE BOEING 737s IN TWO YEARS IS A RECORD FOR SAS

When Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) flew its newest Boeing Next-Generation 737-800 home to Sweden in December, the Stockholm-based carrier set a new company record.

The 737-800 was the 41st Next-Generation 737 Boeing has delivered to SAS in the last two years (1999 and 2000). That is the largest number of new jetliners SAS has acquired in a two-year time period in the company's 54-year-history.

SAS has ordered 58 of the advanced-design single-aisle jetliners, including 737-600s, 737-700s and 737-800s. Eight of the airplanes were delivered in 1998, 22 in 1999 and 19 in 2000. The remainder is scheduled for delivery in 2001 and 2002.

"Adding so many new airplanes to our fleet in such a short time demonstrates our commitment to the environment," said Kurt Kuhne, vice president of Fleet Development, SAS. "The environmental benefits the new 737s provide are huge."

Kuhne said the 737s primarily replace Fokker F-28s and McDonnell Douglas DC-9s in the SAS fleet. "The 737s consume 20 percent less fuel and produce 20 percent lower emissions of carbon dioxide than the DC-9s," he said. "Emissions of nitrous oxide from the 737's jet engines are 40 percent lower than those of the DC-9."

SAS uses the 737-600 on intra-Europe and domestic Norway and Sweden routes, the 737-700 on domestic Norway routes only, and the 737-800 on intra-Europe and domestic Sweden routes.

The Boeing 737-600 is the smallest member of the Next-Generation 737 family of airplanes. It can seat from 108 to 132 passengers and can fly as far as 5,649 kilometers without refueling. Maximum range of the 737-700, which can carry 128 to 149 passengers, is 6,038 kilometers. The 737-800, the largest of the 737s in the SAS fleet, can hold 162 to 189 passengers and fly up to 5,449 kilometers.