BOEING BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVES 737 NEW VARIANT

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 2 (Bernama) -- The Boeing Company's board of directors
has approved the launch of the new engine variant of the market-leading 737,
based on the order commitments and a strong business case.

The 737 MAX, which was launched on Aug 30, has an order commitment for 496
airplanes from five airlines, the aviation company said in a statement Friday.

The new family of aircraft, which includes 737 MAX 7, 737 MAX 8 and 737 MAX
9, builds on the strengths of the Next-Generation 737.

Nicole Piasecki, Vice-President of Business Development and Strategic
Integration, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said the 737 MAX will deliver maximum
efficiency, maximum reliability and the Boeing Sky Interior will continue to
offer maximum passenger comfort.

"We call it the 737 MAX because it optimises everything we and our customers
have learned about designing, building, maintaining and operating the world's
best single-aisle airplane.

"The 737 MAX will deliver big fuel savings that airlines will need to
successfully compete in the future, with airlines will benefit from a seven per
cent advantage in operating costs over future competing airplanes as a result of
optimised CFM International LEAP-1B engines, more efficient structural design
and lower maintenance requirements," Piasecki said.

She said the airlines will continue to benefit from maximum reliability, of
which the 737 MAX will build upon the Next-Generation 737's highest reliability
performance of any airplane in the world, with 99.7 per cent on-time departure
rate.

"The 737 MAX will deliver passenger appeal through the new 737 Boeing Sky
Interior.

"The powerful appeal of the new interior comes from the most spacious cabin
headroom, overhead bins that disappear into the ceiling yet carry more bags and
LED lighting that brings any colour into the cabin," she said.

The Boeing 737 is the world's most popular and reliable commercial jet
transport, with more than 9,000 orders to date.

Boeing forecasts global demand for more than 23,000 airplanes in the 737's
market segment over the next 20 years at a value of nearly US$2 trillion.