Two Orders For Model Based On 737-900ER
Boeing Business Jets today celebrated its 10-year anniversary
Monday at the National Business Aviation Association conference in
Orlando, FL by launching the newest member of its business jet
family -- the BBJ 3. The airplane, which is based on the new
737-900ER (Extended Range), won two orders from undisclosed
customers.
The new BBJ 3 is the largest BBJ family member, and offers 1,120
square feet (104 square meters) of cabin space, 35 percent more
than the BBJ and 11 percent more than the BBJ 2. With up to eight
auxiliary fuel tanks, the BBJ 3 has a maximum range of 5,475
nautical miles (10,140 km).
Boeing does not reveal the identity of BBJ owners at the request
of its customers. In addition to the two BBJ 3 orders, Boeing
Business Jets has secured 10 new orders for BBJs in the last 11
months, bringing total program sales to 114 airplanes.
"This has been a remarkable year for the BBJ," Boeing Business
Jets President Steven Hill said during a media briefing at the
National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Convention and
Exhibition in Orlando. "Since last year's NBAA, we have won 12 new
orders. The continued success of the BBJ is validation of the
airplane's value to its owners. And I can't think of a better way
to celebrate 10 years of success in the VIP market than with a new
family member."
A decade ago, Boeing and General Electric launched Boeing
Business Jets, providing private owners, heads of state, corporate
leaders and charter companies with a long-range airplane that
offers three times the interior space of traditional business jets
with similar range capability.
Since then, Boeing Business Jets has become the eighth-largest
Next-Generation 737 customer. Boeing Commercial Airplanes provides
airplanes to Boeing Business Jets, which then delivers them "green"
to a customer-selected completion center for interior configuration
and paint.
Private individuals comprise 43 percent of the BBJ customer
base. About 35 percent are government heads of state, 12 percent
are corporate operators and the remaining 10 percent are charter
operators.
The BBJ 3 joins an airplane family that includes the BBJ, which
is a high-performance derivative of the 737-700, and the BBJ 2,
which is based on the 737-800. The BBJ was launched July 2, 1996,
and was followed by the BBJ 2 on Oct. 11, 1999.
There are currently 88 BBJs in service around the world. The
fleet has generated more than 215,000 cumulative flight hours and
84,000 flights while maintaining an industry-leading 99.9 percent
dispatch reliability rate.