Latest Deal Takes The 787 Past 350 Orders
Air Pacific, the flag carrier of the South Pacific island
republic of Fiji, and Boeing announced an order Tuesday for five
Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, with three additional purchase rights.
With this announcement, total orders for the Boeing 787 family have
reached 350 airplanes from 26 customers.
The first of the long-range airliners will be delivered in 2011,
and will fly the airline’s key routes from Nadi, Fiji, to
Australia, New Zealand, North America and Japan. The new
Dreamliners will eventually replace two Boeing 747-400s and one
767-300ER.
No list price is currently published for the 787-9 model.
The order was included last week on the Boeing Orders &
Deliveries Web site, attributed to an unidentified customer.
Today’s announcement coincides with the second anniversary of
Boeing’s launch of the 787 program.
"This is a momentous decision for Air Pacific that has taken
many months of detailed study and negotiation," said Gerald
Barrack, chairman of Air Pacific, Ltd. "I am pleased with the price
negotiated and the certainty this decision provides for Air
Pacific, for the future of air transport links within the Pacific
and particularly for the future growth of Fiji’s tourism and
export industries."
The contract signing ceremony held today also marks
Barrack’s retirement from the airline he has led for nearly
20 years.
"We are delighted to have concluded an extensive evaluation and
negotiation, and are convinced that the right aircraft has been
selected," said John Campbell, Air Pacific managing director and
CEO.
Boeing reports the 787
will use 20 percent less fuel for comparable operations than
similarly sized airplanes, while traveling at speeds similar to
today’s fastest commercial airplanes -- Mach 0.85. The 787-9
is the largest version of the 787 family currently being offered to
airlines, and will carry 250 to 290 passengers on routes of 8,600
to 8,800 nautical miles.
"As the airline is an all-Boeing operator, Air Pacific and
Boeing have enjoyed a great relationship for many years," said Rob
Pasterick, vice president and chief financial officer, Boeing
Commercial Airplanes, representing the company at the Suva press
conference and contract signing ceremony. "Air Pacific is one of
the great success stories in South Pacific aviation, having
consistently produced profits in the face of tough competition. We
are delighted that Air Pacific has selected the 787 after its
rigorous evaluation."
Air Pacific has yet to choose between GE Aircraft Engines' GEnx
or Rolls-Royce's Trent 1000 powerplants for its new airplanes.
Air Pacific began operations in 1951 and expanded as tourism and
export markets grew. The airline was the region’s inaugural
customer for the Boeing Next-Generation 737 family with an order in
1996, followed by the 1998 delivery of a 737-700 and the 1999
delivery of two 737-800s.
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