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Continental Airlines
has taken delivery of its first Next-Generation Boeing 737-900ER (Extended Range) airplane. With this delivery,
Continental becomes the first airline in the Americas to operate the 737-900ER, a higher-capacity, longer-range
derivative and the newest member of the Next-Generation 737 airplane family.
Continental currently has 26 more 737-900ERs
on order. The airline this year expects to
take delivery of an average of two-to-three new Next-Generation 737s per month, which includes a mix of 737-900ERs and 737-800s. The
airplanes are part of Continental’s comprehensive fleet strategy, which focuses on improving operational efficiency and customer comfort.
"Continental’s new 737-900ER will have among the lowest operating costs in the industry and allows us to build upon our efficient Boeing
Next-Generation 737 fleet," said Larry Kellner, chairman and chief executive officer of Continental Airlines. "These aircraft are part of our
continued focus on fleet modernization, fuel efficiency and delivering the best product in the business."
Continental's 737-900ER is configured with 173 seats in a two-class layout, with 20 first-class and 153 economy-class seats. All of the
airplanes are equipped with performance-enhancing Blended Winglets, which improve fuel efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions by up to
4%. In the past 10 years, Continental has recorded a 35% improvement in fuel efficiency, mainly as a result of fleet
modernization.
Launched in 2005, the 737-900ER increases the capability of the Next-Generation 737 by carrying more passengers and flying farther. The
737-900ER incorporates a new pair of exit doors and a flat, rear-pressure bulkhead that allow a maximum capacity of 220 passengers in a
single-class layout. Aerodynamic and structural design changes allow the 737-900ER to accommodate higher takeoff weights and increase
its range up to 3,175 nautical miles (5,885 km).
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