Saudi Arabian Airlines completes fleet
renewal with 23rd Boeing 777
Saudi Arabian Airlines has taken delivery
of its 23rd Boeing 777 which arrived on a non-stop flight from Seattle to
Jeddah, completing the airline's fleet renewal program that began with
agreements made in 1995. Since then, Saudi Arabian Airlines has become the
world's fourth largest operator of 777s.
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Saudi Arabian Airlines completes fleet renewal with 23rd Boeing 777.
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Dubai, UAE
The rest of Saudi Arabian Airline's new Boeing fleet of 61 aircraft
comprises five 747-400s, four MD11Fs, 29 MD90s, and 23 777-200ERs. The 61
deliveries were accomplished over a period of just over three-and-half years
and the US$7.2 billion Saudi Arabian Airline order remains the largest ever
by a non-US carrier.
“Saudi Arabian Airlines and Boeing have been partners in advancing
aviation in the Middle East since 1945, dating back to the delivery of the
airline's first DC-3,” said Doug Groseclose, vice president, International
Sales for Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “The completion of these deliveries
results in one of the world's youngest airline fleets, and the beneficiaries
are Saudi Arabian Airlines' customers who will receive unparalleled
passenger comfort and high reliability rates.”
The Boeing 777 has established a record of having the fastest sales pace of
any wide body aircraft in history. Since the launch of the 777 in 1990,
Boeing has received orders for 581 airplanes and has delivered 354 of the
popular twinjets to more than 25 customers worldwide, capturing 68 per cent
of market share.
Added Groseclose: “One of the main reasons behind the success story of the
777 is Boeing's willingness to listen to its customers, and then using its
technological experience to design the aircraft based on these findings. The
result of Boeing's “Working Together” program is the 777 – the most
hi-tech jetliner on the market, and one that maximizes comfort and
reliability, while minimizing travel time and operating costs.”
A large part of the 777's success can be attributed to the extensive design
consideration given to passenger comfort for long-haul flights. The 777's
high cruise speed and extreme reliability mean that airlines can count on it
to do more in less time with fewer interruptions. Among sub-sonic airliners,
only the 747 cruises faster than the 777, and in comparison with its
competitors, the Boeing 777 family enjoys a significant speed advantage.
This translates into shorter flight times by up to a half-hour on 12-14 hour
flights such as from Jeddah to North America.
The 777 reputation for reliability is based on the latest digital design
processes and comprehensive systems testing, and together with the
fundamental superiority of the twinjet design, have placed the aircraft far
ahead of its competitor in terms of mechanical delays, cancellations,
in-flight diversions and turn backs.
ends
For more information, please contact: Saffana Michael or Summera Ali,
Promoseven PR, Dubai. Tel: 3368826. Fax: 3368609
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