787-9 Launch Customer Now Has Eight Planes On Order

Business is booming for many overseas airlines, including national carrier Air New Zealand. More business means more planes... and on Tuesday, the airline announced the purchase of four more Boeing 787-9 airliners. The new order doubles the number of Dreamliners heading for New Zealand.

CBS Marketwatch reports the deal is worth nearly $695 million at list prices, although the airline says it received a "significant" discount as it was one of the first international carriers to order the 787.

"These new aircraft will provide Air New Zealand with a solid platform to realize its growth ambitions over the next decade," said Nathan Agnew, the airline's general manager for strategic development. "Given their capability to fly direct to regions like South Africa, India, South America, Asia and deep into China and North America, we will have some exciting new opportunities to pursue."

Air New Zealand is the launch customer for Boeing's 787-9, currently the flagship model for the Dreamliner line (that may change if Boeing goes ahead with a rumored -10 model.) The first aircraft is to be introduced into service in 2011.

"We look forward to working with this key customer to arrive at a firm agreement to provide efficient and comfortable airplanes that will meet the airline's and its passengers' needs," Boeing said in a prepared statement.

This is not the first time Air New Zealand has doubled its Dreamliner order. After placing an initial order for two -9s in June 2004, the airline doubled that order in October 2005.

FMI: www.boeing.com, www.airnewzealand.com