kOREAN aIR US-based aircraft leasing company Air Lease (ALC) has received its first Boeing 737-800 airplane, which will be operated by Korean Air.

ALC president and chief operating officer John Plueger said: "This delivery is another major step in ALC’s mission to help our airline clients modernise and grow their fleets."

Powered by the new CFM56-7BE engine, the next generation 737-800 passenger aircraft, with a seating capacity of 162-189, is stated to offer the operators a 2% reduction in fuel consumption.

The enhanced CFM engine improves airflow and the airplane’s structural enhancements further reduce drag, leading to a 1% decrease in fuel consumption, as well as the combined improvements offering a 2% reduction in carbon emissions.

"US-based aircraft leasing company Air Lease (ALC) has received its first Boeing 737-800 airplane, which will be operated by Korean Air."

The aeroplane’s new wing design will assist in increasing fuel capacity and efficiency, which collectively improve range, while the new wing airfoil design offers a cruise speed of .789 Mach (530mph), an improvement on the over .745 Mach for earlier 737 airplanes.

Optional technologies featured on the 737-800’s flight deck include vertical situation and head-up displays, in addition to cutting-edge display and flight-management software, which allows flying within restricted navigation paths by using required navigation performance (RNP).

The airplane has been certified for ground positioning system (GPS) landings, which uses satellite technology to enhance the landings.

ALC currently has delivery orders of 94 airplanes comprising of 77 737-800s, five Extended Range 777-300s and 12 787-9 Dreamliners.

In October 2010, ALC placed orders for up to 60 Next-Generation 737-800s, which are scheduled to be delivered through 2017

Image: ALC first next-generation 737-800 airplane takes off from Boeing’s facility in Seattle. Photo: courtesy of Boeing.