Boeing settles $3.7B Russian 737 order

Boeing Co. said it’s settled an order for 50 737s with Russian state agency State Corporation Rostechnology.

The order is prized at $3.7 billion at list prices. The order also comprises purchase rights for an additional 35 737s.

According to the Chicago aerospace giant (NYSE: BA), Boeing has a joint venture with the State Corporation Rostechnology.

The order comprises 15 737-700s, 25 737-800s and 10 737-900 comprehensive range airplanes, which are all built at Boeing’s Renton plant.

Emirates enhance operations to Saudi Arabia

Emirates will precede its existing operations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with an extra 10 services per week to Riyadh and Jeddah, underscoring the raised economic ties between the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

With a 71 percent raise in operations and a 75 percent raise in overall passenger capacity, the new services will further improve business and leisure trade between the two Arab nations.

From 31st October, Riyadh will get five additional services per week, taking its weekly service to 12 flights. From 2nd January 2011 Jeddah will get five additional services, taking its weekly operation to 12.

"Religious based travel to Saudi Arabia persists to grow exponentially each year, with these additional flights set to add a few much required capacity for inbound traffic," said Ahmed Khoory, Emirates Senior Vice President Commercial Operations, Gulf, Middle East and Iran.

The extra services to Riyadh will be serviced by an Airbus A330-200 with 12 First Class seats, 42 Business Class seats and 183 economy class seats. Jeddah will profit from a second A380 service with capacity to seat 517 passengers in a three class configuration.

Emirates remains devoted to the Saudi market with a total of 38 flights per week to four cites including; Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Al Medinah al Munawarah.

AI Express to begin budget domestic flights

Air India's international low-cost carrier (LCC), AI Express, is planning to commence budget domestic flights from next March, connecting metros like Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata with tier II cities in the initial phase.

Though, these flights will begin from Delhi only from next winter. The lag is due to the fact that the airline expects to obtain its pilots trained for taking off and landing in dense fog by that time. Budget fliers from Mumbai will also have to stay as the airline has determined to cancel its only foreign flight out of the city.

The much-maligned LCC is also annoying to alter its image by renaming itself as Express India and shifting headquarters from Mumbai to Cochin as a majority of its 204 weekly flights function from the south.

In another large alteration, its all-economy configuration Boeing 737-800 aircraft will acquire eight business-class seats in the two front rows in the place of 18 budget seats. Termed super economy, the fares for these eight seats will be twice the economy charges and the seats may also have in-flight amusement.