Holds Options For 20 More

Representatives with Boeing announced Wednesday that Singapore Airlines has ordered 20 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, with purchase rights for 20 additional airplanes.

As Aero-News reported, the airline originally announced the selection of and intent to purchase the 787-9 in June.

Singapore Airlines' new 787-9s will be delivered from 2011 through 2013, providing growth as well as fleet renewal. The carrier intends to use the new airplanes on routes to North Asia, the Indian subcontinent and the Middle East.

"The importance of Singapore Airlines as a member of the 787 Dreamliner family cannot be overstated," said Larry Dickenson, vice president, Sales for Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "This is another great step in our long-standing relationship with one of the world's aviation leaders."

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.

The airline has not made an engine selection.

The 787-9 Dreamliner will carry 250-290 passengers on routes of 8,600 to 8,800 nautical miles (15,900 to 16,300 km). The airplane will use 20 percent less fuel for comparable missions than any similarly sized airplane and will also travel at speeds similar to today's fastest widebodies, Mach 0.85.

General Electric and Rolls-Royce are developing the engines for the new airplane, which will feature a standardized engine interface, allowing either manufacturer's engines to be installed at any time on the airplane. The new engines are expected to contribute as much as eight percent of the increased efficiency of the new airplane.

Singapore Airlines currently operates 25 747-400s and the world's largest 777 fleet: 12 777-300s, 31 777-200s and 15 777-200ERs. In addition, SIA has 19 777-300ERs on order, the first of which will be delivered in the fourth quarter of this year.

FMI: www.singaporeair.com, www.boeing.com