BOEING finished the old year announcing that Continental Airways is to become the first US customer for the 7E7 with an order for ten. This takes the firm commitment for the new aircraft to 122. The 7E7 is due to make its first flight in 2007 with planned deliveries to lead customer ANA from 2008. With the US majors still in disarray in their domestic market Continental has led the way in developing services across the Atlantic to the less popular gateways mainly with the now out of production 757, the wide bodied 7E7 ideal to replace the smaller single aisle aircraft for these services. Long term the various 7E7 derivatives could replace all of Continental”s 75 Boeing 757s and 767s. The announcement, made just before the turn of the year, also brings to an end the successful reign of Gordon Bethune as the airline”s chairman and CEO. Another order for Boeing announced was from Hapag Lloyd who are taking ten 737s and disposing of its early Airbus types.
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