Chicago, June 28: Boeing Co. said on Friday that aircraft lessor GECAS ordered 4 777 jets to lease to the Dubai-based airline Emirates, the first new order for the wide-body model this year. Both Boeing and European rival Airbus SAS are suffering through a major slump in the commercial aircraft market since the September 11, 2001, attacks. Airlines are still struggling with weak economies and reduced demand from business travelers along with fallout from the war in Iraq and the deadly SARS virus.
The deal for the twin-aisle 777-300 ERs follows state-owned Emirates' announcement of a gigantic aircraft order at the recent Paris Air Show.
On its Web site, Seattle-based Boeing Commercial Airplanes listed the 4 new orders for the 777s, bringing total net orders so far this year to 42. The GECAS 777 order is the only one for that model so far this year, with the 737 narrow-body leading the pack with 37 net orders.
Bureau Report