=20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This article was sent to you by someone who found it on SFGate. The original article can be found on SFGate.com here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=3D/n/a/2005/05/10/financial/= f091323D36.DTL --------------------------------------------------------------------- Tuesday, May 10, 2005 (AP) SkyEurope Airlines Announces New Jet Order (05-10) 09:13 PDT BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) -- Central European budget carrier SkyEurope Airlines said Tuesday it has ordered up to 32 new Boeing 737-700 airplanes. The contract, signed with Boeing and GE Commercial Aviation Services (GECAS), states that 16 of these aircraft are to be delivered between 2006 to 2007. Of those airplanes, 12 are to be financed and leased to SkyEurope by GECAS. The deal value at list prices was $880 million for the 16 planes, or $1.= 76 billion if SkyEurope decided to exercise rights to buy another 16 jets, company head Christian Mandl told reporters. Company officials said the new aircraft will enable them to cut costs because the planes will use less fuel and be cheaper to maintain. SkyEurope Airlines, founded in 2001, was first budget carrier in central and eastern Europe. The company flies to 22 destinations in 13 countries, including the Slovak, Hungarian and Polish capitals. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 2005 AP