Boeing Business Jets Surpasses 100th Order Sales Goal

ORLANDO, Fla., Nov. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Boeing Business Jets today announced it has sold a program total of 102 BBJs, surpassing its goal to reach 100 orders before the end of the year. The achievement is unmatched by other large-cabin, ultra long-range business jet manufacturers.

"There is a significant market that values large cabins and long-range capability," Boeing Business Jets President Steven Hill said during a media briefing at the National Business Aviation Association's convention in Orlando. "With three times the cabin space as traditional business jets and the ability to fly more than 6,000 nautical miles, the BBJ offers the ability to travel with family, friends or business associates while working, eating, sleeping or entertaining in the air as you would on the ground. The order tally underscores the value of the BBJ, and we expect that trend to continue."

The latest orders for five business jets came from all corners of the world including the first order from Hong Kong. At the request of its customers, Boeing does not reveal the identities of BBJ owners and operators.

Since the launch of the BBJ Program in 1996, 69 customers have ordered 89 BBJs and 13 BBJ 2s. Private individuals comprise 40 percent of the BBJ customer base. About 36 percent are government heads of state, 14 percent are corporate operators and the remaining 10 percent are charter operators.

Hill also announced the BBJ Program has signed a service contract with Jet Aviation Singapore, making the company the first authorized service center for BBJs in the Asia Pacific region. Jet Aviation will provide maintenance, repair and overhaul services as well as warranty work on behalf of BBJ customers.

With the addition of Jet Aviation Singapore, the total number of authorized service centers grows to seven, including three service centers in Europe, two in the United States and one in the Middle East region. The BBJ fleet also is supported by five dedicated BBJ field service offices and a network of more than 450 Boeing and GE support representatives on six continents.

There are currently 83 BBJs in service around the world. The fleet has generated more than 168,000 flight hours to date and 66,250 flights, with an industry-leading 99.9 percent dispatch reliability.

The BBJ and BBJ 2 are high-performance derivatives of the commercially popular Next-Generation 737-700 and 737-800, respectively. Providing unsurpassed levels of space, comfort and utility, the BBJ cabin offers 807 square feet (75 square meters) of space, nearly three times the interior space of competing models with similar range capability. The BBJ 2 offers 25 percent more cabin space and twice as much cargo capacity as its sister model.

For more about the BBJ, visit http://www.boeing.com/commercial/bbj/html/index_html.html .