AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Sept. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Boeing (NYSE: BA) and Qantas celebrated today as the Australian airline’s 75th 737, adorned with a special decal to commemorate the milestone, arrived in Auckland, New Zealand.

Qantas named the Boeing Next-Generation 737-800 in honor of Jean Batten, a spirited New Zealand aviator who broke numerous flying records in the 1930s. Qantas has been flying Boeing 737s since 1986. This latest Next-Generation 737-800 features Qantas-specified, 2.5-meter-high (8.2-feet-high) Blended Winglets, which reduce fuel burn, thereby increasing range and payload.

Qantas Chief Executive Officer Alan Joyce said Qantas was pleased to be able to offer customers a new trans-Tasman product.

“The new Boeing Next-Generation 737-800 will offer international business and leisure customers a state-of-the-art product,” said Joyce. “We are certain that the new aircraft will be in particular demand with business customers, who will appreciate the spacious Marc Newson-inspired cabin design and the array of onboard technology features. We are delighted to be adding six of these aircraft, the first three before the end of this year, to our trans-Tasman fleet over the next two years.” 

With more than 8,000 orders, the Boeing 737 is the world’s most popular commercial jet transport.