Boeing awarded $5.34bn

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(GECAS) have announced a 39-airplane order that includes 15 Boeing 777s - seven 777-300ER passenger jetliners and eight 777 Freighters - and 24 Next-Generation 737-800s.

The order, valued at approximately $5.34 billion at list prices, was booked in 2006 and previously listed on Boeing's Orders and Deliveries website as unidentified.

The order nearly doubles the number of 777s GECAS has ordered directly from Boeing, and increased the total number of orders placed by GECAS in 2006 to 69 airplanes. Deliveries of the 777s and 737s will begin in 2008 and extend through 2010.

‘Our airline customers tell us that the 777 is an ideal aircraft for their long-haul passenger and cargo needs,’ said Henry Hubschman, president and CEO of GECAS.

‘Because of this demand for future capacity expansion in the 2008-2010 timeframe, we already have customers lined up for many of these aircraft.’

‘We have nearly finished leasing all of the Next-Generation 737 aircraft we previously ordered in 2006, so these additional aircraft will help us meet our customers' demand,’ Hubschman added.

Since GECAS placed its first order with Boeing in 1995, the leasing company has accumulated 372 orders for Boeing airplanes.