Saudis Sign Huge Airplane Order

The White House celebrated Saudi Arabia’s $6 billion purchase of U.S.-made airplanes Thursday, calling it a victory for both American manufacturers and the Clinton administration.

Saudi Arabia agreed to buy 61 commercial airplanes from manufacturers Boeing and McDonnell Douglas. President Clinton helped broker the sale, which was announced last year, finalized Wednesday and signed Thursday at the White House.

White House spokesman Mike McCurry said the Clinton administration “worked this sale awfully damn hard” because of the president’s commitment to promoting U.S. business abroad.

“He has done that routinely, instructed his ambassadors and his diplomats to put the economic interests of Americans forward as they conduct their diplomacy,” McCurry said. “It is in our interest to advance the economic interests of Americans as we work around the world.”

The deal also could help Clinton’s re-election campaign. Building the aircraft will create work for 100,000 people in politically significant California, as well as in Washington state, Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas and Utah.

Saudia, the national airline of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, ordered the aircraft for cargo service on its international routes and for domestic and regional operations.

The airline will purchase 23 777-200 twin jets and five 747-400 jumbo jets from Boeing, and 29 MD-90s and four MD-11s from McDonnell Douglas. The first planes will be delivered in 1997.

Harry Stonecipher, president and chief executive officer of McDonnell Douglas, declined to estimate how many new jobs Thursday’s agreement would create for his company, but said it “fits right in with the production plans for the period.”