The Economy

Boeing Books Orders for 737s, 747s, 777s

June 21, 2011

Deals include extended-range 777s for 2014 Winter Olympics.

Boeing Co. announced a raft of orders and commitments on Day 2 of the Paris Air Show.

Stamford, Ct.-based GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) ordered two 747-8 freighters and eight 777-300ER (extended-range) aircraft. Boeing is working with GECAS to finalize the details of the agreement.
Malaysia Airlines said it has exercised options to purchase 10 next-generation 737-800s. The order is valued at more than $800 million at list prices.
Norwegian Air Shuttle, Europe's third-largest low-cost carrier, announced an order for 15 next-generation 737-800 airplanes. The order is valued at $1.2 billion at list prices.
Aeroflot, Russia's largest airline, ordered eight Boeing 777-300ERs.

Of the Aeroflot order, Boeing said the airline hopes to connect Paris and a number of other cities with the Russian resort town of Sochi by 2014, when the city near the Caucasian mountains hosts the Winter Olympics.

Boeing and Aeroflot Russian Airlines announced an order at the Paris Air Show for eight Boeing 777-300ER (extended-range) jetliners."These Boeing 777 airplanes will strengthen our network strategy, particularly the international growth opportunities we expect from our joint businesses with SkyTeam partners when servicing the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games and the 2018 World Cup," said Vitaly Saveliev, general director of Aeroflot Russian Airlines.

The 777 is well-known in Russia. Engineers at the Moscow Boeing Design Center and IT experts from Russian software companies helped design the 777-300ER, and VSMPO, a subsidiary of the state corporation "Russian Technologies," manufactures large titanium forgings for 777 landing gear, wings and pylons, according to Boeing.

The order is in addition to a March order for eight 777s that Aeroflot placed. The airline also has ordered Boeing's 787 Dreamliner plane.

In related news, Oslo-based Norwegian Air Shuttle has finalized its contract to purchase three 787 Dreamliners, an agreement announced in May. That brings the total number of Boeing 787s it will operate to five, including two to be leased from International Lease Finance Corp.

Josh Cable | Former Senior Editor

Former Senior Editor Josh Cable covered innovation issues -- including trends and best practices in R&D, process improvement and product development. He also reported on the best practices of the most successful companies and executives in the world of transportation manufacturing, which encompasses the aerospace, automotive, rail and shipbuilding sectors.

Josh also led the IndustryWeek Manufacturing Hall of Fame, IW’s annual tribute to the most influential executives and thought leaders in U.S. manufacturing history.

Before joining IndustryWeek, Josh was the editor-in-chief of Penton Media’s Government Product News and Government Procurement. He also was an award-winning beat reporter for several small newspapers in Northeast Ohio.

Josh received his BFA in creative writing from Bowling Green University, and continued his professional development through course-work at Ohio University and Cuyahoga Community College.

A lifelong resident of the Buckeye State, Josh currently lives in the Tremont neighborhood of Cleveland. When the weather cooperates, you’ll find him riding his bike to work, exercising his green thumb in the backyard or playing ultimate Frisbee.