Boeing Selling 747s to South Africa

Boeing Co. confirmed Saturday that South African Airways has ordered two 747-400 jetliners worth $256 million and has taken an option to buy two more of the planes.

The agreement drew severe criticism from the congressional delegation from Washington State and anti-apartheid activists in Seattle.

Barbara Smith, a spokeswoman for Democratic Sen. Brock Adams, said he “was violently opposed to the sale.”

U.S. policies do not prohibit such sales to South Africa.

Boeing spokesman Dick Schleh said: “The company is in business to sell airplanes to airlines all around the world so long as they are in countries the U.S. government permits commercial sales in.”