Article Posted on : - Dec 13, 2010

The new Air France 777-300ER taking off from Paine Field in Everett, Washington. A Boeing photo

EVERETT, WASHINGTON (BNS): Boeing has delivered the 200th Boeing jetliner – a 777-300ER (extended range) – to the Paris-based carrier.

Air France's new 777-300ER has 383 seats including 42 business class lie-flat seat beds measuring over 78.74 inches (2 m) in length, plus an in-seat entertainment system with 15-inch (38 cm) wide screens in 16:9 format.

Air France a member of Sky Team will operate this 777-300ER between Paris and Montreal. In January 2011, it will be operated on the new direct route between Paris and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

The first Boeing jet, a 707, was delivered to Air France in 1959. The airline also has operated 727s, 737s and 767s and ordered its first 747s in 1966. Air France first ordered 777-200ERs in 1996 and was a launch customer for the 777-300ER in 2000 and for the 777 Freighter in 2005.

For the 2011 summer season, Air France will be operating a total of 61 777s making it one of the largest 777 passenger fleets in the world.
Boeing is scheduled to deliver to Air France one 777 Freighter in 2011 and 11 additional 777-300ERs through 2015.

The airplane has a maximum range of 7,930 nautical miles (14,685 km). The 777 family is the world's most successful twin-engine, twin-aisle airplane. Sixty-one customers around the world have ordered more than 1,100 777s, Boeing said.