Boeing and ILFC Announce 20-Airplane 787 Dreamliner Order

Boeing via PRNewswire ^ | Nov. 21, 2005

[Righty_McRight]

First Major Leasing Company to Announce 787 Order Cites Broad Airline Demand

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Nov. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA - News) and International Lease Finance Corp. (ILFC) today announced a firm order for 20 787 Dreamliners with four additional options. The order is valued at approximately $2.7 billion at list prices. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in January 2010.

ILFC is the first leasing company to be announced as a 787 customer. The airplanes were previously acknowledged on the Boeing Web site, attributed to an unidentified customer.

"The 787 will meet the demand we expect from our airline customers for the breakthrough passenger comforts and operating efficiencies of the Dreamliner," said Steven F. Udvar-Hazy, chairman and chief executive officer - ILFC. "This also adds the newest member of the Boeing product line to our fleet, building on our nearly 30-year partnership with Boeing as the largest lessor of Boeing airplanes."

ILFC has ordered 698 Boeing jets since 1977.

"This is a great day for the 787 and our partnership with ILFC," said Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and Chief Executive Officer Alan Mulally. "To have this leading global lessor choose the 787 is a bellwether endorsement for the industry and for the passenger appeal of our newest airplane. The Dreamliner is the market leader because it provides what passengers and airlines want, superior value and passenger comfort that will allow travelers to go where they want to go, when they want to go, efficiently and affordably."

ILFC has placed Boeing 777s, 737s, 747s, 757s and 767s with airlines around the world. Its fleet encompasses three models of the Next-Generation 737 -- the 737-600, -700 and -800 -- and three models of the 777 family -- the -200ER, -300 and -300ER.

Including ILFC, 25 customers have announced 309 orders and commitments for the 787 since its launch in April 2004.

The Dreamliner will use 20 percent less fuel than today's comparable airplanes while providing airlines with up to 45 percent more cargo revenue capacity.

Passengers will notice a more spacious cabin, larger luggage bins and larger windows. They also will benefit from higher humidity levels and reduced dehydration, and a reduced cabin altitude, which reduces flight fatigue. The unique qualities of the 787's composite structure make many of these new cabin features possible.

The 787 family will carry passengers on routes up to 8,800 nautical miles (+16,000 kilometers). It allows airlines to offer more of what passengers want: affordable, comfortable, nonstop service to more destinations. The Dreamliner's first flight is scheduled for 2007, with certification, delivery and entry into service in 2008.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Source: Boeing Co.

[Rokke]

And the hits to airbus just keep right on coming.

Down goes airbus!!!! Down goes airbus!!!!

[HiTech RedNeck]

Passengers will notice a more spacious cabin, larger luggage bins and larger windows.

I didn't know there was one single standard luggage bin and window setup for a plane, but that it was an option the airline ordered depending on whether or not it wanted to go cattle car.