The FINANCIAL -- Tassili Airlines of Algeria placed its first order for Boeing (NYSE: BA) airplanes with a signed deal for four Next-Generation 737-800s, announced today at Dubai Airshow 2009.

Tassili Airlines, a 100-percent-owned subsidiary of government-owned Sonatrach Petroleum Corporation, will use the 737-800s to transport employees and cargo between large Algerian cities and Sonatrach work sites. Tassili plans to put its 737s into commercial passenger service on domestic and regional routes in the near future.

Tassili Airlines was founded in 1997.

"Tassili's selection of the Boeing Next-Generation 737 is a testament to the airplane's versatility, range and other performance factors," said Marty Bentrott, Boeing Commercial Airplanes vice president of Sales for the Middle East, Central and South Asia. "We offered a comprehensive package to support its unique employee-transport needs, including spares, support equipment, ground-handling equipment, tooling and training."

Boeing has more than 2,100 unfilled orders for the Next-Generation 737s and nearly 120 customers around the world have ordered more than 5,000 Next-Generation 737s. Recent performance enhancements to the airframe and engines will reduce fuel consumption by 2 percent by 2011.

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