Luxembourg Airline Acquires Boeing Jets

Luxair of Luxembourg is acquiring two Boeing 737-500s through Itochu Air Lease Co. Ltd. of Japan, planes that initially were built for Air France, a spokesman for the manufacturer said.

The planes, one delivered Friday and the other next month, are being fitted with convertible seats for 102 to 120 passengers, a Boeing news release said.

John Dern of Boeing Commercial Air Group said the planes are two of seven that were ordered by Air France, which reformulated the order earlier this year.

Instead of seven planes to be delivered from this year to 1999, Air France ordered seven 767-300ERs and eight 737-500s to be delivered between 1999 and 2001, retaining the option to change aircraft types.

Dern said he didn’t know whether buyers had been found for the other five planes in Air France’s previous order.

The Luxair deal boosts Boeing’s orders for the year to 209 planes, compared with 63 planes at the same time last year.