Boeing and Shenzhen Airlines today celebrated delivery of the airline’s first Boeing 737-900 airplane, the newest member of the Next-Generation 737 family.

The airplane is the first of five 737-900s that Shenzhen Airlines will receive through 2005 for domestic and regional routes.

Shenzhen Airlines is the first Chinese carrier to order the 737-900 and this is carrier’s first direct delivery from Boeing.

Boeing has received orders for 55 737-900s from six customers. Alaska Airlines received the first 737-900 in 2001. Overall, the 737 is the best-selling commercial jet airplane with more than 4,500 airplanes of all 737 models currently in service.

The Shenzhen 737-900 carries 189 passengers up to 2,745 nautical miles (5,083 kilometers), and is capable of serving such routes as Shenzhen—Beijing and Urumqi—Shenzhen. Like the other Next-Generation 737 airplanes, it incorporates a new, advanced-technology wing design that helps increase fuel capacity and efficiency, both of which increase range.

“Shenzhen Airlines exhibits a visionary perspective of the market with this important delivery,” said Rob Laird, vice president, China Sales - Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “The capabilities, efficiency, economics and passenger comfort of the 737-900 clearly keep Shenzhen Airlines at the forefront of the world’s airlines”

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