EVERETT – Singapore Airlines handed the Boeing Co. an order for 20 of the aircraft manufacturer’s 787-9 Dreamliners in a deal finalized Wednesday.
The carrier has purchased rights for an additional 20 Dreamliners and will begin receiving the aircraft in 2011. Singapore Airlines intends to use the new airplanes on routes to North Asia, the Indian subcontinent and the Middle East. Based on list prices, the deal is worth up to $3.76 billion for 20 jets.
“The importance of Singapore Airlines as a member of the 787 Dreamliner family cannot be overstated,” said Larry Dickenson, vice president of sales for Boeing Commercial Airplanes, in a prepared statement. “This is another great step in our long-standing relationship with one of the world’s aviation leaders.”
The airline initially expressed interest in the 787-9 back in June, shortly after Boeing’s rival Airbus announced a second delay on its A380 superjumbo jet.
Last week, Airbus confirmed rumors of a third setback on its A380 program. The latest delay makes aircraft on average about two years behind schedule. As the A380 launch customer, Singapore Airlines will receive its first jet in October 2007, one year past its original delivery date.
The 555-seat A380 travels routes up to about 8,000 nautical miles and has a list price of $316 million. Boeing’s 787-9 aircraft carries between 250 and 290 passengers on routes up to 8,800 nautical miles. Its list price ranges from $178.5 million to $188 million.
This week, Airbus’ newest chief executive, Louis Gallois, pledged to keep alive the company’s efforts to develop the A350 – its answer to Boeing’s 787. On Monday, former CEO Christian Streiff resigned after just 99 days on the job, saying he wasn’t given the operational authority to turn the company around.
Singapore Airlines’ order for these 20 Dreamliners brings the total orders for the 787 family to 422 airplanes from 33 customers, with commitments for 23 additional airplanes announced by other customers.
Singapore Airlines operates 25 747-400s and the world’s largest 777 fleet. It has 19 777-300ERs on order, the first of which will be delivered in the fourth quarter of this year.
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