Boeing delivers Air China its 150th Boeing Aircraft

On Monday, Air China celebrated the delivery of its 150th Boeing airplane. The new Boeing Next-Generation 737-800 is the first airplane in China to feature the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games livery highlighting the official mascots -- the five “Fuwa” animal cartoon characters.

Air China, China's national flag air carrier, is the official airline partner of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

The new airplane is leased by GE Commercial Aviation Services (GECAS) to the Air China Group. GECAS currently leases two Boeing 747-400SF freighters and nine Boeing 737 passenger aircraft to Air China.

“We are delighted to expand our longstanding relationship with Air China with the delivery of this new Boeing 737-800,” said Ms. Li Liu, senior vice president, Marketing, for GE Commercial Aviation Services (GECAS) in Beijing. "The Olympic Games livery makes this plane even more special to us, since GE is a sponsor of the 2008 Beijing games.”

“Air China and Boeing have a historical relationship that goes back to 1972 when Air China became the first Boeing customer in China with an order of 10 Boeing 707s,” said Rob Laird, Boeing Commercial Airplanes vice president - China Sales. “With the delivery of this 150th Boeing commercial airplane to Air China in its appealing festive livery, we are proud of this auspicious milestone and look forward to further years of successful collaboration.”

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