KLM Purchases More Aircraft from Boeing

The Netherlands based KLM Royal Dutch Airways has recently announced in a press release that they have signed an agreement to purchase an additional five Boeing aircraft. These new aircraft will allow the airline to expand service to more destinations. The purchase is for three 737-700 narrow body airlines, and two 777-300ER wide body aircraft. The value of the initial order is over 700 million US Dollars, and is in addition to an order just a few months ago for similar aircraft. This past June, KLM ordered nine Boeing 777-300ER, and with this newest purchase, the airline currently has 12 on order.

Marline Dailey, the vice president of sales for Boeing, in the area, had the following to say about the purchase."KLM and Boeing enjoy a long-standing and productive partnership through programs in engineering, maintenance and flight operations. Together, we work for the most optimal utilization of Boeing products in KLM's. KLM's expansion and renewal program demonstrates their commitment to improving fuel efficiency and reducing environmental impact, a commitment that Boeing shares."

About KLM Royal Dutch Airways: KLM is the oldest continuously operating airline in the world, operating since 1919. The airline today employs over 30,000 people, and operates over 100 aircraft to 250 destinations around the world. The airline operates from a hub in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and is a member of the SkyTeam Alliance. This alliance allows frequent flier members to fly on many airlines, including Northwest Airlines and Continental Airlines in the United States.

About the ordered aircraft: The Boeing 777-300ER is the largest aircraft of the 777 family of wide-bodied aircraft. The aircraft is nearly 245 feet long and 212 feet wide. Able to fly over 8,000 nautical miles allows the aircraft to fly from Auckland to nearly anywhere in the populated world. The 777-300ER can carry over 400,000 pounds of fuel and cargo, allowing for airlines to operate very profitable routes with ample room for cargo in the underside of the aircraft. Since the aircraft has only two engines, the ability to operate on a single engine is critical. Tests have shown the aircraft can fly over six hours on a single engine. The 777 is a very safe aircraft, benefiting from being the first aircraft designed entirely on computer systems. The Boeing 737-700 is the one of the four popular aircraft of the 737 Next Generation series of aircraft. Based on the original 737 designed by Boeing in the 1960's, the 737-700 offers many state-of-the-art features, including high efficiency turbofan engines and blended winglets, which offer lower fuel burn and fewer CO2 emissions. The 737-800 features a range of nearly 4,000 nautical miles, with 149 passengers, and the ability to carry thousands of pounds of cargo.