Continental Launches First Flight with New Boeing Sky Interior

Continental Airlines has begun flying a new Boeing Next-Generation 737-800 with the new Boeing Sky Interior, the first U.S.-based carrier to fly with the new interior. Continental's jet features the new United Airlines livery. Wednesday's flight marks completion of 13 deliveries to the first five launch customers for the innovative 737 Boeing Sky Interior. The airplane also marks a new record for 737 yearly deliveries of 376. The previous record was 372 deliveries in 2009.

Today's Next-Generation 737 operators fly 737s that are 5 percent more fuel-efficient than the first Next-Generation 737s delivered in 1998, and another 2 percent improvement is on the way. One percent of the savings comes from reducing resistance as air flows around the airplane.

The upper and lower anti-collision lights change from round to a more aerodynamic, elongated teardrop shape. Wheel-well fairings are re-contoured to smooth the air flow near the main landing gear. A redesign of the environmental control system, exhaust vent and streamlined wing slat and spoiler trailing edges round out the aerodynamic changes.