Boeing delivers its 777th 777 to Air France

The Hindi ^ | Saturday, April 11, 2009 : 1045 Hrs | Staff

[Paleo Conservative]

New York (IANS): Boeing reached a milestone Friday when it delivered its 777th Boeing 777 to Air France.

The French national carrier is among the top Boeing clients, including Singapore Airlines, Emirates Airline and United Airlines.

"It is a fitting tribute to the success of the programme that an industry leader such as Air France is taking delivery of our 777th 777," a Boeing statement quoted Aldo Basile, its vice president for sales (Europe, Russia and Central Asia), as saying on the momentous occasion.

"The 777 continues to offer an unbeatable combination of efficiency, economics and passenger comfort that places it at the forefront of modern commercial aviation,'' he said.

"The 777 has been a valuable asset to the long-haul fleet of Air France and it is the right aircraft to allow us to maximize our revenues in the most economic and efficient manner," said Air France senior vice president Pierre Vellay on the milestone.

The new Boeing 777-300ER will be the first to bear a new Air France livery and company brand identity.

The French national carrier was also the first airline in the world to introduce the Boeing 777-300ER and the Boeing 777 Freighter.

Introduced in 1995, the Boeing 777s are the most successful twin-engine, twin-aisle airplane, with a range of more than 17,000 kilometres. Boeing says 56 customers have ordered over 1,100 Boeing 777s so far.

But with the global slowdown taking its toll on the aviation sector, Boeing had just a day before announced to cut monthly production of the 777 from seven to five from June 2010. It also announced to delay plans to increase the production of 747-8 and 767 planes.

[Paleo Conservative]

Here's another article below from Boeing's website.

Boeing Delivers 777th 777 to Air France with New Airline Livery

SEATTLE, April 10, 2009 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] and longtime partner Air France celebrated significant milestones today with the delivery of the 777th Boeing 777 airplane. The new Boeing 777-300ER also will be the first to bear a new Air France livery and company brand identity.

The 777 family is the world's most successful twin-engine, twin-aisle airplane. Fifty-six customers around the world have ordered just over 1,100 777s. The 777's combination of unmatched payload and range, as well as the lowest fuel consumption and operating costs in its class, make it one of the most popular airplanes with passengers and airlines. Air France operates one of the largest fleets of 777s in the world and was the launch customer for both the 777-300ER and the 777 Freighter. "The 777 has been a valuable asset to the long-haul fleet of Air France and it is the right aircraft to allow us to maximize our revenues in the most economic and efficient manner," said Pierre Vellay, senior vice president, New Aircraft & Corporate Fleet Planning, Air France.

"It is a fitting tribute to the success of the program that an industry leader such as Air France is taking delivery of our 777th 777," said Aldo Basile vice president, Sales Europe, Russia and Central Asia for Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "The 777 continues to offer an unbeatable combination of efficiency, economics and passenger comfort that places it at the forefront of modern commercial aviation."

The relationship between Air France and Boeing goes back to the early days of the airline, which celebrated its 75th anniversary last year. Air France's early fleet of DC-3s sported the distinctive silver and royal blue livery that was used to launch the airline.

Three generations of Boeing airplanes have carried three Air France liveries. The first was with the arrival of the jet age and the Boeing 707. The second opened up long-haul international travel, epitomized by the Boeing 747 and finally, today with the unveiling of the Boeing 777-300ER. The latest incarnation of the distinctive Air France livery continues the all-white theme but is intended to position the company in the 21st century as a truly international carrier that has more than half of its passengers based outside France.

[Paleo Conservative]

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[Westlander]

[hattend]

Never been on a 777. Hope to get on one someday. Maybe on my planned trip to Oz.

Does Quantas have 777s flying out of Los Angeles?

[imintrouble]

Ah yes France

Who contribute nothing to the global effort on peace - of course they can purchase whatever their evil hearts desire.

[fishtank]

I wonder who bought the 666th.

[C210N]

Soros probably did.

[Paleo Conservative]

Never been on a 777. Hope to get on one someday. Maybe on my planned trip to Oz.

Does Quantas have 777s flying out of Los Angeles?

No, only 747-400's, 747-400ER's, and A380's. I believe Virgin's Australian affiliate now flies 777-300ER's between the US and Australia. Also Delta is starting ATL-LAX-SYD service on a 777-200ER.

Below is an excerpt April 1 article in the LA Times.

Virgin's Richard Branson gives L.A.-Sydney fliers a fare deal

The founder, who owns Virgin Atlantic and Virgin America airlines, unveils a new carrier. V Australia, whose fares will be hundreds less than the competition.

By Peter Pae
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer April 01, 2008

One of the more popular but most expensive routes in the world is getting some competition, and that means cheaper air fares for Southern California travelers.

V Australia, a new airline started by British billionaire Richard Branson, said Monday that it would begin nonstop service between Sydney and Los Angeles International Airport in December with round-trip fares averaging about $250 less than the competition.

The Australia route "is in dire need of competition and a good shake-up, and that's a challenge we are always keen to take on," said Branson, founder and chairman of Virgin Group, which through Australia's Virgin Blue will operate the new international carrier.

.................

To jump-start the new international service, V Australia at midmorning Monday began offering on its website a promotional round-trip fare of $777 for the first 1,000 U.S. passengers to book a flight with the carrier. The fare is about half the prevailing rate and plays off the type of plane that will be flown on the route -- a Boeing 777-300ER.

..............

End of excerpt - Click here to read more

[Frantzie]

I never flew on one either. I would love to try a 777.

I really like the 737-800(?). It is a newer “stretched” variant with a toilet added in the middle of the cabin. Super smooth flight. Really nice.

I still love the look of the older 757. Great looking plane and still in service.

[divine_moment_of_facts]

777 is Not a lucky number!

[Clemenza]

Favorite aircraft to fly to Europe. I usually get a 76 or and A340 to Latin America, however. Don’t like the A340, for various reasons (A320 being the only Airbus aircraft that I can tolerate).

[Clemenza]

Still waiting in baited breath for the composite-constructed replacement to the 73 that Southwest has been pushing Lazy B on ever since the 78 was announced.

[Frantzie]

A least they do not elect Muslims plus they have guts to shoot Somalis. Thank God for Sarkozy and Merkel smacking down a global bailout.

[SeaHawkFan]

I still love the look of the older 757. Great looking plane and still in service.

If you are not in an exit row or in first class, the leg room is horrible and the seats barely recline; and the aisle is very narrow. For passenger comfort, it is one of the worst planes.

[PeteePie]

They are nice. I flew Delta and Emirates. The nice thing about these is the on-demand audio/video system. I flew in coach and for a 6’2” dude, coach is coach. Another nice feature is no middle seat in the outboard rows. Now, the business and first-class? Holy cow! Can’t wait for enough F F miles for an ugrade.

[sionnsar]

France -- where most of their energy is from nuclear power. They get some things right, and their wine is quite good.

Both my visits to France were enjoyable and the people were nice -- even in Paris. Even to obvious Americans.

Air France is a good airline. The best treatment I've received on a US -- Europe flight was on Air France. (The Paris - Bangalore leg was worse, rather like being on an American carrier.)

[buccaneer81]

For passenger comfort, it is one of the worst planes.

I agree. For a "big" plane, it's terribly claustrophobic. The single aisle makes it seem a mile long and six feet wide on the inside.

[hattend]

The single aisle makes it seem a mile long and six feet wide on the inside.

Kind of like the stretch DC-8 I flew from Philly to Dhaharan, KSA. I have never felt like screaming in terror, before or since, as we finished up that flight. Very claustrophobic. Thank God is was a 747 on the way back.

[hattend]

Thanks! I’ll have to check out Branson’s new airline for trips to Australia.

[buccaneer81]

Kind of like the stretch DC-8

Although not as long as the DC-8 or 757, I flew a stretch 727 on the redeye from LA to Boston in 1981. Every seat was taken. I was in a center seat. It was awful.