Boeing Company on Tuesday delivered Air China’s first Next-Generation 737-800 (registration B-5518) equipped with the new Boeing Sky Interior.

This aircraft will provide Air China’s passengers with an enhanced onboard experience with larger stowage bins and sculpted sidewalls, a LED lighting system with cove lighting and curved architecture and more intuitive passenger service units.

The new interior is the latest improvements to the 737 aircraft. Boeing is working on a package of performance improvements that will reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions by 2 percent.

The improvements will affect the airframe and engine and Boeing is currently testing them. The company expects to implement the improvements in production between mid-2011 and early 2012.

On January 19, Boeing received approval from the Chinese Government for a $19 billion aircraft agreement. The deal included 200 aircraft orders to be delivered over a three-year period.

Boeing jets in China’s air travel and cargo system represent more than 50 percent of all commercial jetliners operating in China. Over the next 20 years, Boeing projects that China will need 4,330 new airplanes, worth more than $480 billion.

The first aircraft with the new Boeing Sky Interior was delivered to United Arab Emirates and the second to Malaysia in November 2010. Flydubai received its improved aircraft in the fourth quarter of 2010.

Malaysia Airlines became the first full-service airline to operate the 737-800 with the new interior. So far, 50 customers have ordered the new Boeing Sky Interior for 1,386 airplanes.