EVERETT, Wash., July 20, 1999 -- Air Europe S.p.A. of Italy took delivery of its first Boeing 777-200 today from International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC) and The Boeing Company. With this delivery, Air Europe becomes the first Italian airline to operate a Boeing 777 airplane. Attending the milestone event were Capt. Dr. Giuseppe Gentile, general manager and deputy chief executive officer - Air Europe, and Tom Basacchi, senior vice president - Europe, Boeing Commercial Airplanes Group.
"The Boeing 777 is a great addition to our current international fleet of all-Boeing 767-300 jetliners," Capt. Gentile said. "The economics of the 777 will enhance our profitability through increased operating efficiency and reliability while pleasing our customers with its comfortable and versatile interior."
"Air Europe is the fifth European airline to acquire the 777 and we are very pleased with the success of this superior airplane in the region," Basacchi said. "We're delighted that Air Europe's partnership with Boeing has been extended with the 777, which will serve the airline well as it continues to grow."
Air Europe configured its initial 777-200 to carry 339 passengers - 42 in Comfort class and the remainder in economy. With the versatility of the Boeing family of airplanes, the passenger cabin can be easily converted in response to market demand.
Air Europe plans to use the 777 fleet for connecting Italy with destinations in Cuba, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Mauritius and Male.
A survey of nearly 6,000 European airline passengers found the Boeing 777 twin-aisle jetliner was preferred by more than three out of four passengers who have flown aboard both the 777 and the Airbus A330/A340 airplanes.
The Boeing 777 is assembled in Seattle using parts manufactured around the world. The Aeronautics Division of the Italian company, Alenia Aerospazio, builds the 777's outboard flaps and radome assembly.
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