Boeing to Provide Landing Gear Exchange Service to Qantas Airways

• Qantas is launch customer for 747-400ER landing gear program

(Seattle, August 31, 2010) -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) will perform landing gear exchange, repair and overhaul services on Qantas Airways' 747-400ER (extended range) jetliners. Qantas, the program launch customer for the 747-400ER and operator of six of the airplanes, becomes the launch customer for the 747-400ER Landing Gear Overhaul and Exchange Program.

Qantas will use the Boeing Service Center Repair Network for quick, reliable access to landing gear exchanges, repair and replacement around the world, greatly reducing maintenance time. The agreement takes effect in 2011.

The launch of the Landing Gear Overhaul and Exchange Program by Qantas for the 747-400ER family provides a similar opportunity for operators of the 40 747-400ER Freighters currently in service.

"We appreciate that a customer such as Qantas is demonstrating their confidence in Boeing to provide them with this important service," said Dale Wilkinson, vice president, Material Services, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "By choosing Boeing's landing gear exchange program, Qantas will have immediate access to a replacement gear without having to invest in a landing gear asset themselves."

Source : The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA)