Boeing lands $1.6B deal

JAL 777, 767 order underscores ‘banner year’ for Everett planes

By BRYAN CORLISS

Herald Writer

SEATTLE — Boeing on Monday confirmed a $1.6 billion deal for 777s and 767s, and it may have a far larger order for 777s in the works, the Wall Street Journal reported.

It’s all part of "a banner year" for the Everett-built planes, said Seddik Belyamani, Boeing Commercial Airlines Group’s executive vice president for sales.

Japan Airlines will buy eight 777-200ERS and three 767-300ERS, Boeing officials said. The planes will be delivered from 2002 to 2004.

As part of the deal, the airline is trading in 10 MD-11 jets. Boeing will convert the planes to cargo carriers to be used by United Parcel Service.

The deal is "an innovative business arrangement that addresses the needs of two very important customers," Belyamani said.

Boeing has agreed to a $1.5 billion deal with UPS for as many as 30 used MD-11 cargo jets.

Japan Airlines estimates it will save about $100 million a year in operating costs by replacing its MD-11s with new planes.

Meanwhile, International Lease Finance Corp. is set to confirm a deal to buy another 33 777s before the end of the year, the Wall Street Journal said Monday.

International Lease Finance leases planes to airlines worldwide.

The deal would push Boeing sales of 777s to a record of 113 planes for the year, worth more than $18 billion.

Also Monday, industry publication Flight International reported that Korean Air will order two 747-400F freighters, each with a list price of about $186 million.

And Boeing announced it would provide the government of Turkey with six airborne early warning aircraft, built on 737 air frames. The $1 billion deal includes an option for a seventh.