SAN FRANCISCO, April 16 (Xinhua) -- U.S. aerospace manufacturer Boeing Company (Boeing) said Monday that its customers around the world have placed orders for nearly 20 BBJ MAX airplanes.

The orders include all three models of Boeing's business jetliners -- BBJ MAX 7, BBJ MAX 8, and BBJ MAX 9, and the first delivery is set for later this year, Boeing said in a statement.

The U.S. airplane giant Monday celebrated the fly-away of the first BBJ MAX airplane, which extends the range, performance and cabin comforts of the world's most popular business jetliner.

The first airplane, a BBJ MAX 8, will be outfitted with an auxiliary fuel tank, which will enable the new owner to fly up to 12,297 km in a standard configuration.

"In the past few weeks, the airplane has achieved factory rollout, first flight, multiple certifications, and now flyway," said Greg Laxton, head of Boeing Business Jets.

Based on the new 737 MAX airplane family, the BBJ Max is designed with the new technology of more fuel efficient engines, improved aerodynamics and advanced systems.

The technology allows all the three BBJ models to fly farther and have lower operating costs than its predecessors.

Since its launch in 1996, Boeing Business Jets have won 258 orders and delivered 233 of those aircraft, which are intended for private, charter, corporate and Head of State operations.