São Paulo –Boeing delivered on Monday (12) the first Iraqi Airways 737-800. The aircraft may transport up to 189 passengers and fly 5,765 kilometres non-stop. According to information disclosed by Boeing, this delivery is the first of 29 aircraft of this model acquired in an order placed in 2008. The Iraqi state-owned airline has already ordered another 10 aircraft from Boeing, but of the 787 model, which is larger and used on longer-haul flights. Iraqi Airways should use the 737 on regional flights.
The minister of Transport of Iraq, Hadi Al Ameri, said, according to a Boeing press statement, that the new aircraft should “play a key role in” the process for modernisation of the company fleet. Currently, Iraqi Airways has two Boeing 737-200s, one 737-300, one 737-400, one 767-200 and an Airbus A330-200, delivered by the European aircraft maker in December 2012, flying the Germany, Australia and United Kingdom routes.
The Boeing commercial aircraft sales vice president for the Middle East, Russia and Central Asia, Marty Bentrott, said that the choice of this aircraft by the executives at Iraqi Airways shows the “confidence” the Iraqis have in their products. “We look forward to further strengthening this relationship to fulfil the airline’s future commercial aviation needs,” said the executive.
*Translated by Mark Ament
