Boeing Delivers First 747-400ER Freighter to TNT, Guggenheim Aviation Partners

SEATTLE, Dec. 20  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Boeing (NYSE:BA), TNT and Guggenheim Aviation Partners celebrated the delivery of both customers' first 747-400ER Freighter.

The milestone airplane was delivered to Guggenheim Aviation Partners (GAP) and will be put into service by TNT, the Netherlands-based global express and mail delivery services company.

"The arrival of the first TNT-owned Boeing 747 is a major step towards achieving our strategic objective of being the number one carrier between Asia and Europe," said Peter Bakker, TNT Chief Executive Officer. "The aircraft will seamlessly link into TNT's air and road networks in Europe. This will provide TNT's customers with the fastest guaranteed transit times to Europe, while having full visibility and control through TNT's integrated IT-services, resulting in lower inventory costs, overall supply chain costs and increase of customer satisfaction."

TNT currently operates a fleet of 46 aircraft that includes six Boeing 737 Freighters and one Boeing 757 Freighter. The company will add a second 747-400ER Freighter to its fleet in spring 2007, in cooperation with GAP.

"We congratulate TNT as it adds the Boeing 747 Freighter -- the standard of the air cargo industry -- to its global fleet," said Marlin Dailey, vice president of Europe, Russia and Central Asia Sales, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "The excellent economics and environmental performance of the Boeing 747-400ER Freighter have contributed to the continued success and market leadership of the 747 Freighter family."

Investment funds managed by GAP currently own a fleet of 31 Boeing aircraft. Today's delivery is the first from an order for six 747-400ER Freighters placed in June 2005. The U.S.-based aviation investment firm placed additional orders earlier this year for four 747-8 Freighters and three 777 Freighters.

Boeing is the undisputed air cargo market leader, providing over 90 percent of the total worldwide dedicated freighter capacity. The Boeing 747 Freighter family alone carries half of the world's freighter cargo. The 747 Freighter features a distinctive nose door, which allows increased revenue by accommodating high-value outsize shipments, and a side door, which provides superior efficiency and flexibility in ground operations.

In Boeing's World Air Cargo Forecast 2006/2007, Boeing forecasts that world air cargo growth is expected to expand at an average annual rate of 6.1 percent over the next 20 years. European air cargo markets comprise approximately one-third of the world's air cargo traffic.

TNT (NYSE:TNT) provides businesses and consumers worldwide with an extensive range of services for their mail and express delivery needs. TNT offers efficient network infrastructures in Europe and Asia and is expanding operations worldwide to maximize its network performance. TNT serves more than 200 countries and employs around 127,000 people. In the first nine months of 2006, TNT reported euro 7.3 billion in revenues and an operating income of euro 921 million. TNT N.V. is publicly listed on the stock exchanges of Amsterdam and New York. TNT recognizes its social responsibility, and has formed partnerships with the United Nations World Food Programme and the United Nations Environmental Programme to fight hunger and pollution in the world. More information about TNT can be found on its Web site http://group.tnt.com/ . 

DATASOURCE: Boeing Co.



CONTACT:  Marc Birtel, International & Sales Communications, +1-206-766-

2917, or , or Bob Saling, Cargo Communications, +1-

206-766-2914, or , or Tim Bader, 747 Communications, +1-

425-342-4771, or , or Marc Potma, TNT Senior Press

Officer, [phone], 



Web site:  http://www.boeing.com/

http://group.tnt.com/ 

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