Seattle, July 23, 1996 -- Finnair, the national airline of Finland, will introduce four Boeing 757-200 twinjets into its fleet under provisions of an operating lease agreement announced today with International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC). The aircraft will be the first new Boeing jets for Finnair.

Boeing will deliver the airplanes to ILFC beginning in September 1997, with Finnair putting them into service soon thereafter under terms of the agreement.

Helsinki-based Finnair plans to use the 219-seat, Pratt & Whitney-powered twinjets on charter routes to the Mediterranean and North Africa.

"With its size and performance, the 757 will increase our flexibility and allow us to deliver high quality travel packages to our customers," said Antti Potila, Finnair's president.

The Boeing 757-200, member of the popular 757/767 family of medium-sized airplanes, is a medium-to-long-range jetliner incorporating advanced technology for exceptional fuel efficiency, low noise and emission levels, increased passenger comfort and top operating performance.

ILFC is a worldwide lessor and financier of jet transports, based in Los Angeles. A Boeing customer since 1977, ILFC has announced orders for a total of 377 new jetliners from Boeing, 62 of which are 757s.