Planemaker Holds Tenuous Nine-Plane Lead Over Airbus For 2007

It's gonna be close. On Thursday, Boeing announced a final agreement with Australia's Qantas Airways for the order of 31 737-800 jetliners. The order, valued at $2.3 billion at list prices, pushes the American planemaker's 2007 sales orders past the 1,200 mark.

This is the largest single 737 order placed by Qantas for the 737. The airline previously ordered 38 737-800s in increments over the past six years. The latest order brings the airline's order total with Boeing to 51 airplanes during 2007, including an order posted last month in which Qantas contracted for 20 787-9 Dreamliners, which the airline initially announced in July.

"This further investment in the latest aircraft technology will also underpin our efficiency drive by lowering operating costs, while at the same time minimizing our environmental impact as we grow," Qantas CEO Geoff Dixon said. "The 737-800 has a 25 percent lower fuel burn per seat and 30 percent lower maintenance cost compared with older equivalent aircraft."

"Qantas is a key 737 customer, and the Australian geography is one where the airplane really proves its value," said Stan Deal, vice president, Asia Pacific Sales - Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "The 737 will continue to provide excellent economics, reliability and passenger comfort to one of the world's great airlines."

Boeing added 67 aircraft, including the Qantas deal, to its Orders and Deliveries website Thursday, bringing the number of net orders received for the year to 1,213. As ANN reported, Dublin-based leasing company AWAS also ordered 31 planes this week, while Delta Air Lines firmed up two options for 777s. An unidentified customer also ordered three 787 Dreamliners.

According to the latest numbers available, Boeing's European rival Airbus has 1,204 net orders through the end of November. Both planemakers handily beat their previous sales records, though it's still to be determined which one will take the overall crown in 2007.

We'll have to wait until the New Year to see which manufacturer comes out on top. Boeing's next order update will come in January; Airbus plans to release its final 2007 numbers in the middle of that month.

FMI: www.boeing.com, www.qantas.com