=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/2006/06/12/financial/= f174942D38.DTL --------------------------------------------------------------------- Monday, June 12, 2006 (AP) Australian Carrier Orders 9 New 737s (06-12) 17:49 PDT SEATTLE, (AP) -- Boeing Co. said Monday that Virgin Blue Airlines had exercised purchase rights for nine of the airplane maker's narrow-body 737-800s. The deal with the Australian low-cost carrier is valued at $634.5 million at list prices, although airlines usually negotiate big discounts. Chicago-based Boeing said Virgin Blue would begin receiving the planes in 2008. Virgin Blue already operates 52 737s. The new jets will replace planes in Virgin's fleet that the airline is currently leasing. Separately, Boeing also disclosed on its Web site that an unidentified customer had ordered a passenger version of the 747-8, the newest model of Boeing's classic jumbo jet. The deal would mark the first order for a passenger version of a 747 since 2002, according to data on the company's Web site. Boeing declined to provide any details on the customer. ----------------= ------------------------------------------------------ Copyright 2006 AP