Boeing, ACG Announce 737 MAX Commitment and Next-Generation 737 Order

-- Commitment for 35 737 MAX airplanes

-- ACG first leasing company to announce commitment for 737 MAX

-- Firm order for 20 Next-Generation 737-800s

SEATTLE, Nov. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) and Aviation Capital Group (ACG) today announced the leasing company's commitment for 35 737 MAX airplanes and its firm order for 20 Next-Generation 737-800s. The Newport Beach, Calif.-based ACG is the first airplane leasing company to announce a commitment to the 737 MAX.

"ACG is a leader in the commercial airplane leasing industry and its intelligent fleet decisions have contributed to the company's 22 consecutive years of profitability," said Ray Conner, senior vice president of Sales and Customer Support for Boeing Commercial Airplanes.  "The ACG leadership team understands the importance of having advanced, highly competitive airplanes to meet their customers' needs in today's marketplace. This commitment will provide ACG with airplanes featuring performance improvements and the innovative Boeing Sky Interior that will keep its airplanes at the leading edge of passenger comfort, efficient operations and reduced fuel consumption."

The new 737 MAX family will be powered by CFM International LEAP-1B engines. The new-engine variant will have a 7 percent operating cost advantage over tomorrow's competition. The airplane will have the capacity for increased range while providing better fuel efficiency than today's already-efficient Next-Generation 737.

The Next-Generation 737 family is the world's best-selling airplane, consistently delivering outstanding operational and financial performance across the widest range of missions. Today's Next-Generation 737-800, which can seat up to 189 passengers, can fly 260 nautical miles farther and consume 6 percent less fuel while carrying 12 more passengers than the competing model.

"The 737 is one of the prime building blocks of our portfolio strategy," said R. Stephen Hannahs, group managing director and chief executive officer of ACG. "These new 737NG and 737 MAX airplanes will continue our long-standing strategy of providing our customers the most fuel efficient, most capable airplanes with the lowest operating costs."

With today's announcement, ACG has ordered or committed to a total of 151 Boeing airplanes made up of 111 Next-Generation 737s, 35 737 MAXs and five 787 Dreamliners. This includes 15 Next-Generation 737s for which ACG acquired delivery positions from another airline in 2006.