Boeing Has Delivered 100 Of Its Largest Variant Of The Single-Aisle Airliner

The number of Boeing's Next-Generation 737-900ER (extended range) flying reached 100 this week, with a delivery to Tajikistan-based Somon Air. To date, the 737-900ER has logged 414 orders from 16 customers. The Next-Generation 737 family has won orders for more than 6,000 airplanes and Boeing has delivered more than 3,800.

"Airlines around the world are recognizing the superior performance and operating economics of the Next-Generation 737-900ER," said Beverly Wyse, 737 vice president and general manager. "It offers the best seat-mile cost of any single-aisle airplane which is especially important with today's high fuel prices."

The Next-Generation 737-900ER is a short-to-medium range twinjet that increases the capability of the Next-Generation 737 family. The higher-capacity, longer-range derivative of the 737-900 was launched in July 2005 with an order for 30 airplanes from Indonesia's Lion Air and introduced into service in April 2007. The Next-Generation 737-900ER replaces the larger, single-aisle Boeing 757, which ceased production in 2004. The 737-900ER is capable of operating more than 90 percent of the 757 twin-engine's routes yet at a much lower operating cost.

The 737-900ER is the longest 737, typically carrying 180 passengers in a two-class layout with an exit limit certified for up to 220 passengers in a single-class configuration.

Somon Air, based in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, is the country's first private full-service carrier.

FMI: www.boeing.com