Article Posted on : - Feb 05, 2011

Boeing 737 aircraft

NEW YORK (AFP): US aerospace giant Boeing said that Dubai aircraft leasing firm Dubai Aerospace Enterprise cancelled an order for 32 of its best-selling single-aisle 737 aircraft.

Boeing spokesman Doug Alder confirmed the name on Friday after Boeing first announced the cancellation without identifying the customer.

He said Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, an ambitious, mainly aircraft leasing business launched in February 2006 and partly owned by the crisis-strapped government of Dubai's investment arm, still has 56 orders on Boeing's books. DAE had ordered 35 737s, 15 747s and six 777s, he said.

Chicago-based Boeing has taken 32 new orders for 737s in the year to date: Alaska Airlines, 15 planes; the US Navy, six; one from a non-airline operator and 10 more just revealed Thursday, from "unidentified customer(s)".

But according to Boeing's weekly update on changes in orders and deliveries for commercial aircraft, the DAE cancellation left orders for 737s so far this year at a net zero.

In the year to date, Boeing has also received orders for two of its long-haul 777s, from American Airlines.

Shares in Boeing closed 0.56 per cent higher at USD 71.38 in New York trade.