BOEING DELIVERS FIRST 777 FREIGHTER TO AIR FRANCE

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 20 (Bernama) -- Boeing celebrated the
delivery of the company's first 777 Freighter to launch customer Air France in a
ceremony at the Future of Flight Aviation Center & Boeing Tour near Paine Field
on Thursday.

The contractual delivery and airplane departure are scheduled for Friday.

"Our new Boeing 777 Freighter will operate very well with our 747-400ER
Freighters," said Air France Executive Vice President for New Aircraft &
Corporate Fleet Planning Pierre Vellay in a statement from Everett, Friday.

"Also, we will benefit from the airplane's commonality with our proven 777
passenger fleet and improve our cargo efficiency to help us through the current
economic difficulties."

Providing cargo capacity normally associated with larger airplanes, the 777
Freighter can fly 4,880 nautical miles (9,038 kilometers) with a full payload of
226,700 pounds (103 metric tons).

The new airplane is expected to progressively replace the 747-400 Boeing
Converted Freighter (BCF) in the Air France Cargo fleet.

Air France currently operates five 747-400ER Freighters and four
747-400BCFs.

"The 777 Freighter uses less fuel per cargo tonne than any freighter
operating," said Aldo Basile, vice president, Sales, Europe, Russia and Central
Asia, Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

"With the 777F, Air France also will experience the lowest maintenance costs
and the lowest trip costs of any large freighter, as well as outstanding
environmental performance."

The 777 Freighter is the world's longest-range freighter and features the
lowest trip cost of any large freighter, with high cargo density and 10-foot
(3.1-meter) interior height capability that complement the popular 747 Freighter
family.

"The 777 Freighter provides a new level of cargo economics, with low
tonne-kilometer costs to help cargo airlines in the current environment," said
Larry Loftis, vice president and general manager of the Boeing 777 Program.

"The 777 Freighter is a great example of Boeing's commitment to continuously
improve the 777 family to deliver top value to owners and operators."

The 777 Freighter is powered by General Electric's GE90-110B1L and meets QC2
noise standards.

Air France Cargo also was the first operator of the 747-400ER Freighter.
Twelve customers have ordered a total of 73 777 Freighters.

-- BERNAMA