The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] and Air Pacific announced that the Fiji-based airline has ordered three Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners in addition to a 2006 order for five of the high-technology jetliners.
The airplanes were added to the Boeing Orders and Deliveries Web site in 2007, attributed to an unidentified customer.
The new airplanes are valued at US$580 million (F$907 million) and bring the total value of Air Pacific’s 787 orders to approximately US$1.5 billion (F$2.34 billion), the largest transaction ever undertaken by a Fijian company. Air Pacific also is taking three purchase rights for the same model, which eventually would bring the airline’s fleet to 11 Dreamliners.
„Air Pacific has proven itself to be a very visionary airline,“ said Stan Deal, vice president, Asia Pacific Sales – Boeing Commercial Airplanes. „The airline is taking a leadership role in passenger satisfaction and in economic performance with its 787 fleet plans.“
Air Pacific plans call for the 787-9 to replace its current twin-aisle fleet of two Boeing 747-400 and one Boeing 767-300ER airplanes, which serve such locations as the United States, Japan and near-Pacific destinations. The fleet changes also will facilitate planned expansion within Asia and around the Pacific Rim.
The airline’s 787-9s will be powered by General Electric GEnX engines.
Including this order, 55 customers around the world have ordered a total of 817 Dreamliners – the fastest-selling start for any commercial airplane program.
Photo: Boeing
