Boeing launches new 737 planes with fuel-efficient engines

Boeing launches new 737 planes with fuel-efficient engines

2011-08-31 08:44:18 GMT+7 (ICT)

SEATTLE (BNO NEWS) -- The Boeing Company on Tuesday announced a new 737 airplane family with engines which will offer greater fuel efficiency, the company said in a news release.

Boeing said the new planes will be powered by CFM International's LEAP-1B engines which have been optimized for the 737 airplane. The new planes will have the lowest operating costs in the single-aisle segment with a 7 percent advantage over the competition, according to the aircraft manufacturer.

The company said delivery of the first airliners is scheduled to begin in 2017. Five different airlines have already ordered a combined total of 496 airplanes of the new version.

"The re-engined 737 will allow Boeing to continue to deliver the most fuel efficient, most capable airplane with the lowest operating costs in the single-aisle market," said Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Jim Albaugh.

"This, coupled with industry leading reliability and maintainability, is what customers have told us they want. As a result, we are seeing overwhelming demand for this new and improved version of the 737," Albaugh said. "We are working with our customers to finalize these and other agreements in the weeks and months ahead."

The 737 family has won orders for more than 9,000 airplanes. Boeing forecasts global demand for more than 23,000 airplanes in the 737's market segment over the next 20 years at a value of nearly $2 trillion.

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