UNITED AIRLINES BECOMES FIRST CARRIER TO OPERATE 50 BOEING 777s

United Airlines, the airline that launched the Boeing 777 program and was the first to fly the world's most passenger-preferred jetliner, today became the first carrier to operate 50 twin-aisle 777s.

United took delivery of its 49th and 50th 777s - the first deliveries this year of the fastest, most advanced, comfortable and economic jetliner in its class. Those deliveries follow a record-setting order year for the 777, in which the world's airlines overwhelmingly chose the Boeing 777 over competing products.

"We love the 777," said Gordon McKinzie, manager, New Aircraft Development, United Airlines. "The 777 has been consistently rated 'best in show' by our passengers, pilots, flight attendants, mechanics and accountants. We call our 777s the 'Magnificent Sevens.' That says it all."

United was the launch customer for the 777 program, ordering 34 of the twinjets in October 1990 and 27 more since then. The airline also was one of the eight "working together" airline partners that helped define the airplane that is now so dominant in its class. United flies each of its 777s an average of 14 hours a day on routes such as San Francisco to Paris, San Francisco to Beijing, or Denver to Frankfurt, Germany.

In five and a half years of operating its 777s, United's 777 fleet has flown 116,000 flights, carrying 24 million passengers more than one-third of a billion miles.

"This delivery is particularly special," said Ron Ostrowski, vice president and general manager of the 777 program. "United has been with us from the very beginning. They helped us define the airplane, they were the first to put it in service, and now they're introducing their 50th 777 into their fleet. What a resounding vote of confidence and customer satisfaction."

United's McKinzie said the 777 has the best reliability in the industry for an airplane of its size and class.

"It has great passenger appeal, and it's user friendly," he said.

United's 49th and 50th 777s are 777-200ER (extended range) models. The 777-200ER is the longest-range jetliner in the world, flying up to 8,860 statute miles (7,700 nautical miles). The 777-200ER can accommodate from 305 to 328 passengers in a typical three-class configuration -- the same as the 777-200 initial model. The 777-200ER carries an additional 31,000 gallons of fuel to allow for its longer range over the initial model. That feature has made the 777-200ER very attractive to a number of airlines.

Of the 117 Boeing 777s ordered during 2000, 66 were 777-200ERs.

"The delivery of United's 50th 777 and last year's record-high sales for the 777 are just two indicators that the 777 definitely is the right airplane for the airlines and their passengers," Ostrowski said.