Virgin Blue S Boeing -

Virgin Blue's Boeing -

Summary: Boeing's - is the largest member of the strong selling family. Unlike the other Next Generation s, the introduced new fuselage lengths, increasing seating capacity to people.

Article Body: In , Virgin Blue, Australia's number two airline after Qantas, agreed to buy nine Boeing - jets valued at $US. million. The Brisbane based company has a programme to expands its fleet of younger, more fuel-efficient aircraft.

Virgin Blue's fuel costs account for over % of its gross revenue. It wants newer, more fuel efficient aircraft to lower costs.

By decreasing the variety of aircraft in its fleet, Virgin Blue will also reduce maintenance costs due to economies of scale in engineering technical skills requirements and spare parts procurement.

The company said it ordered the next generation because it is a reliable and cost-efficient aircraft, which is essential in their competitive low-cost market.

In introduction of QANTAS's low cost carrier Jetstar, has further increased pressure on reducing costs.

Like the Boeing - and Boeing -, the features many improvements including more efficient CFM-B turbofan engines. Over , CFM-B engines are in service as part of the most popular engine/aircraft team in commercial aviation.

The CFM-B turbofan, with it's swept fan and advanced compressor is among the most modern, efficient and reliable turbofans ever. More than airlines fly CFM-B-powered s and, since entering service in the mid-s, they have accumlated over Million flight hours.

All CFM-B engines delivered from mid were compliant with future Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP), environmental requirements.

The CFM-B also powers the Boeing/GE BBJ (Boeing Business Jet) and military variants including transports special mission aircraft.

Another improvement in the - is the new wing with greater thickness, span and wing area, larger tail surfaces and a new flightdeck.

The flightdeck has six flat panel LCDs which can present information as on the . A heads-up-display (HUD) is optional.

Virgin Blue's aircraft feature distinctive winglets. These winglets stand approximately . metres ( feet), tall and are installed at the wing tips. They help with reduced fuel burn (by reducing vortex drag), reduced engine wear, and producing less noise on takeoff.

Virgin Blue's Boeing s feature three toilets, six premium economy seats with extra legroom and red leather upholstery and eight exits.

Recently the company fitted some of its - jets with video-on-demand systems. Passengers now have the option to view staellite feeds of different pay television channels for a small $. charge that they pay by swiping a credit card through the card reader that is installed next to the LCD screen.

Until its launch on September , the - was known as the -X Stretch. Compared with the the is .m (ft in) longer, taking typical two class seating from to , while range is significantly increased. The Boeing - has sold strongly since its launch, and early was the highest selling Next Generation model. First flight was on July , first delivery (to Hapag Lloyd) was in April .

The largest single order for the series has come from the Irish budget carrier, Ryanair. After had already been ordered earlier, a firm order for aircraft was made in January , with an option of another , to be delivered over the next years. Ryanair will use the aircraft in a single class configuration, to seat passengers.