FARNBOROUGH, England, 9 July 2012. In a runup to what promises to be a big week of aircraft sales at this week's Farnborough International Airshow, Boeing Commercial Airplanes in Seattle primed the pump at Farnborough with Friday's announcement of an order for 23 fuel-efficient 737 MAX narrow-body passenger jetliners with options for four more to Australian carrier Virgin Australia in Brisbane, Australia.
With this order, Virgin Australia becomes the first Australian airline to finalize an order for the new 737 MAX, while adding to their existing fleet of 68 Next-Generation 737 airplanes. The Boeing 737 MAX is designed to compete directly with the fuel-efficient Airbus A320neo.
The 737 MAX will savings in fuel. Powered by the CFM International LEAP-1B engine, it reduces fuel use by an additional 13 percent over today's most fuel-efficient single-aisle airplanes. The 737 MAX's structural design, engine thrust, efficient maintenance also can save airlines money, company officials say.
Virgin Australia established its operations in Australia with two Boeing 737 airplanes in August 2000. The airline operates a mix of 73 narrow and wide body Boeing airplanes. Ailerons for all Boeing 737 airplanes are manufactured in Australia by Boeing Aerostructures Australia.
Boeing officials claim that when compared to a fleet of 100 of today's most fuel-efficient airplanes, the 737 MAX will emit 277,000 fewer tons of carbon dioxide and save nearly 175 million pounds of fuel per year. Worldwide demand for single-aisle passenger jets over the next two decades will be 23,000 aircraft, worth about $2 trillion, Boeing officials predict.
Like its widebody big brother, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the Boeing 737 Max has serrated edges called chevrons for the back of the engine nacelle and the engine exhaust nozzle to reduce jet blast noise by controlling the way the air mixes after passing through and around the engine.
The Boeing 737 MAX family will consist of three models -- the MAX 7, MAX 8, and MAX 9 -- that will have different lengths and different seating configurations. The new jets will feature the 737 Boeing Sky Interior with spacious cabin headroom, overhead bins that disappear into the ceiling yet carry more bags that previous interior configurations, and light-emitting diode (LED) lighting.
For more information contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes online at www.boeing.com/commercial, or the Farnborough International Airshow online at www.farnborough.com. Also follow Military & Aerospace Electronics and Avionics Intelligence daily Farnborough show coverage online at www.militaryaerospace.com/farnborough-report.
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