Boeing has taken the
wraps off the new 737-900ER (Extended Range) airplane before
thousands of employees and guests at the company's Renton, Wash.,
manufacturing facility.
Indonesian dancers escorted the newest member of the
Next-Generation 737 airplane family along the south shores of Lake
Washington as employees and 737 supplier representatives, local and
Indonesian government officials and Indonesian launch customer,
Lion Air, looked on.
"This is a wonderful day for the Boeing team and 737 customers.
The capability and value of the world's most successful jet family
continues to grow with the new 737-900ER," said Mark Jenkins, vice
president and general manager of 737 Airplane Production.
"We are confident that the airplane's unprecedented economic
advantages and industry-leading reliability will enable our
customers to be even more successful. That's the hallmark of the
737."
Boeing launched the 737-900ER in July 2005 when Jakarta-based
Lion Air announced an order for 30 737-900ERs. Lion Air also
exercised purchase rights for 30 additional 737-900ERs in June
2006. In addition to Lion Air, the 737-900ER has been ordered by
Continental Airlines, GE Commercial Aviation Services (GECAS) and
Sky Airlines. Futura International Airways and Excel Airways will
begin operating 737-900ERs on lease from GECAS in 2008.
The first 737-900ER will be delivered to Lion Air in the first
half of 2007, following a five-month flight test program.
"The induction of the 737-900ER into our fleet will give Lion
Air the competitive advantage both in cost savings and service,"
said Rusdi Kirana, president-director of Lion Air. "We are proud to
be the only airline in Southeast Asia that will operate the
737-900ER, which will support our strategic plan to expand our
routes and add new destinations within our growing market."
The 737-900ER is the same size as the 737-900, but can carry 26
additional passengers in a one-class configuration. At 138 ft., 2
in. long, the twin-engine jet incorporates a new pair of exit doors
and a flat rear-pressure bulkhead that allows a maximum capacity of
215 passengers in a single-class layout.
Aerodynamic and structural design changes, including
strengthened wings, a two-position tailskid, enhancements to the
leading and trailing-edge flap systems, and optional Blended
Winglets and auxiliary fuel tanks, will allow the 737-900ER to
accommodate higher takeoff weights and increase its range to 3,200
nautical miles.
The 737-900ER will have substantial economic advantages over
competing models including 9 percent lower operating costs per trip
and 7 percent lower operating costs per seat than the A321 -- which
is more than 10,000 pounds heavier. The 737-900ER joins the
737-600, -700 and -800 airplanes and will share the same
industry-leading reliability of the other Next-Generation 737
series models. The Next-Generation 737s are 10 years newer and fly
higher, faster and farther than competing models. To date, 99
customers have placed orders for more than 3,300 Next-Generation
737s.