Yeah, it's been a tough year for airline orders... but we do see signs of life here and there -- even if you have to look off to Spain to bring them into focus.

Spanish carrier Air Europa has signed an order for four new Boeing 737-800 airplanes, for delivery in 2004, with an additional 11 737 orders on the horizon. The first four will be leased from ITOCHU AirLease, B.V. Air Europa, headquartered in Llucmajor, Mallorca, and operator of an all-Boeing fleet of 737s and 767s, will use the new airplanes within Spain and on intra-European routes. The four 737-800s will replace 737-400s.

"These are the first four of 15 additional 737s we will order for fleet renewal and expansion," said Juan Jose Hidalgo, president, Globalia Corporaci�n Empresarial. "We have operated the 737-800 for more than three years and know its reputation for reliability is well deserved. These airplanes allow us to deliver passengers to their destinations on time and their low operating costs make them extremely profitable to fly."

Hidalgo said the size and performance of the 737-800 makes it the perfect airplane for short European routes and longer routes to destinations in the Canary Islands. Air Europa uses 737-800s equipped with performance-enhancing blended winglets for the longer routes.

The 737-800s are powered by new CFM56-7 engines produced by CFMI, a joint venture between Snecma of France and General Electric of the U.S. The engines meet community noise restrictions well below current Stage 3 limits and below anticipated Stage 4 limits.

In all aspects the 737-800 is environmentally friendly. The entire family of Next-Generation 737 airplanes easily meets international emissions limits for hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, smoke and nitrogen oxide. All 737s manufactured today are also quieter than the international noise standards established for 2006.

"The 737-800, with its quieter engines, is the perfect airplane to operate in and out of a noise-sensitive airport such as Madrid, which is one of Air Europa's main hubs," said Marlin Dailey, vice president of European Sales, Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

The 737-800 has the most advanced-design technology in the single-aisle market, with an all-new wing and updated liquid-crystal displays in the flight deck. The Air Europa 737-800s, which will seat 186 passengers, have an interior that features new soft, indirect lighting that enhances cabin ambience as well as a smooth, sculptured ceiling that gives the passenger cabin a more open, spacious feel.

Air Europa, founded in 1986, is the air travel division of Globalia Corporaci�n. Air Europa operates a fleet of 30 Boeing airplanes on a network that includes most of the Spanish territory.

FMI: www.boeing.com, www.air-europa.com