Free Republic

LE BOURGET, France, June 14, 2005 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] and GE Commercial Aviation Services (GECAS) announced today the lessor's purchase of 20 Boeing Next-Generation 737s worth US$1.1 billion at list prices. GECAS also is identifying itself as the customer for 12 Boeing 737s ordered last year that were attributed to an unidentified customer. These 12 airplanes will be delivered starting late this year and throughout 2006. All 12 have been placed with airlines. The 32 airplanes on firm order, in conjunction with six 737s ordered last month for lease to Sky Europe, bring to 38 the firm...

VIENNA (AFP) - The low-cost Slovak airline SkyEurope Airlines said here it had ordered up to 32 Boeing 737-700 aircraft in a lease-and-purchase deal worth 880 million (721 million euros) to 1.76 billion dollars. The contract, which has been signed, covers a firm order for 16 aircraft and an option to acquire an additional 16. Of the 16 firm orders, according to a Boeing spokeswoman in Brussels, six of the Next-Generation aircraft had already been delivered to GE Commercial Aviation Services, the air leasing arm of the US General Electric conglomerate, for use by SkyEurope. The leasing unit has ordered...