EVERETT, Wash., June 16, 2004 -- Boeing and Japan Airlines (JAL) today celebrated delivery of the airline's first Boeing 777-300ER (Extended Range) airplane, the newest member of the market-leading 777 commercial airplane family.
The airplane is the 28th 777 delivered to JAL and the first of eight 777-300ERs that the airline, a launch customer for the model, will receive through 2008.
"Japan Airlines exhibits a visionary perspective of the market with this important delivery," said Larry Dickenson, senior vice president, Sales - Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "The capabilities, efficiency, economics and passenger comfort of the 777-300ER clearly keep JAL at the forefront of the world's airlines."
The 777-300ER is the first of two new Longer-Range 777 models. It and the 777-200LR (Longer Range) were launched in February 2000 at the request of airlines seeking additional flexibility to serve non-stop routes that passengers demand.
The twin-engine 777-300ER carries 365 passengers up to 7,705 nautical miles (14,270 kilometers), and is capable of serving such routes as New York-Tokyo and Tokyo-London.
Boeing has received orders for 71 777-300ERs from seven customers. Air France received the first 777-300ER in April.
During its flight test program, the 777-300ER exceeded its original design performance targets. As a result, the new jetliner provides increased payload and range capability over those promised to customers at the time of the airplane sale.
The comfort and spaciousness of the Boeing 777 cabin makes the airplane uniquely attractive to passengers and, as the most technologically advanced airplane in operation, the 777 has an unequalled safety and reliability record.
General Electric Aircraft Engines [NYSE: GE] manufactures the engines for both Longer-Range 777 models. The GE90-115B turbofan is the world's largest and most powerful commercial jet engine, producing 115,000 pounds of thrust, currently a record verified by the Guinness Book of World Records.
Following on the success of the 777-300ER, the design of the 777-200LR -- the world's longest range jetliner -- is more than 80 percent complete. The first 777-200LR is scheduled to enter production in October and be delivered during the first quarter of 2006.