Will Become Italy's First Dreamliner Operator In 2018

Two 787-8 Dreamliners will be leased by ILFC to the Italian carrier Neos, the leasing company and Boeing announced Tuesday. Based at Milan Malpensa Airport in northern Italy, Neos will become the country's first 787 operator when it takes delivery of the airplane in 2018.

Neos currently operates an all-Boeing fleet of six Next-Generation 737-800s and two 767-300ER (Extended Range) airplanes. The airline will use the 787s to provide even greater passenger comfort and service, and expand its route network. ILFC is Boeing's largest 787 customer with orders for 74 of the airplane type. This is not an incremental 787 order for Boeing.

"We are proud to announce this deal. With the 787s, we will continue to deliver our passengers the best travel experience in the industry – just as we have been doing since 2002 with the delivery of our first new Boeing 737-800," said Carlo Stradiotti, chief executive officer of Neos SpA. "This deal is possible because of the excellent work performed by our colleagues in the last 12 years of operations and because Neos is a part of the Alpitour Group, the most important and best integrated tourism group in the country."

"ILFC and Neos have worked together for over 10 years and we are proud to be part of their fleet renewal with 787s. The 787s will deliver a new level of passenger comfort and aircraft efficiency to the Italian leisure charter market," said ILFC Executive Vice President And Chief Marketing Officer, Philip G. Scruggs. "We look forward to expanding this new relationship."

Italy plays a key role in the production of the 787, with Boeing supplier Alenia Aermacchi's factories in Grottaglie (Taranto), Foggia and Pomigliano (Naples) producing the central fuselage and horizontal stabilizer for the Dreamliner.

"We are delighted to count Neos, an all-Boeing carrier, as our first Italian 787 operator," said Todd Nelp, vice president of European Sales, Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

Founded in 2001, Neos caters to Italy's leisure market providing flights predominantly from Milan, but also other major Italian cities, to destinations across Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and the Mediterranean.

(Image provided by Boeing)

FMI: www.boeing.com, www.ilfc.com