The Boeing Co. could be in line for a blockbuster 777 order.
The president of Japan’s All Nippon Airways told Bloomberg News Friday that his airline is considering an order for 53 777-300ER jets, which would replace the airline’s entire fleet of 747s and older-model 777s.
“We are also studying the A380, but the 777-300ER is the most likely,” said Mineo Yamamoto, president of All Nippon, at a news conference. The Tokyo-based airline may decide on the purchase in February, he said.
Boeing spokesman Marc Birtle said the company “views ANA as a valuable Boeing customer” but does not discuss deals still under negotiation.
Such an order would be one of the largest sales of Everett-built wide-body jets ever for Boeing. All Nippon last year became the launch customer for Boeing’s new 787 by ordering 50 planes, but the 777-300ER carries a much higher list price – as much as $245 million, compared with $125 million for the 787.
Yamamoto said All Nippon’s 777 order would be worth about $13 billion.
The announcement “continues to solidify Boeing’s hold on Japan,” Leeham Co. analyst Scott Hamilton said. “It’s like, ‘Airbus who?’”
He said it’s unlikely All Nippon would opt for the Airbus A380 superjumbo, “given Japan’s long history of buying Boeing.”
All Nippon, which is Japan’s No. 2 airline, flies a fleet that is three-quarters Boeing planes. The country’s top air carrier, Japan Airlines, also flies an overwhelmingly Boeing fleet.
Also Friday, the government of Vietnam announced it has cleared the way for the country’s state-owned airline to complete a previously announced deal for four Boeing 787s. The contracts are expected to be signed later this month when Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Kai visits the United States, the Associated Press reported.
Airlines so far have announced plans to order 266 787s, and Boeing has signed contracts for 128 of them.
On Monday, the company disclosed on its Web site that it had concluded a previously announced deal with Korean Air, which is buying 10 787s.
Reporter Bryan Corliss: 425-339-3454 or corliss@heraldnet.com.
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