Olympic Airways Orders Eight 737s

Olympic Airways has ordered eight Boeing 737-800s worth $408 million, Boeing Commercial Airplane Group said Monday.

Deliveries to the Greek airline will begin in early 2000. Olympic plans to use the planes to replace earlier-model 737s and 727s.

The 737-800 is a new-generation, stretched version of the popular twinjet, capable of carrying up to 189 passengers. First deliveries of the plane are scheduled next year.

The aircraft features a larger wing, redesigned tail and new engines, giving it longer range and higher speed than current 737s.