Also: Kuwait-Based Leasing Company Orders 10 More Planes

Though overshadowed somewhat by the pomp and circumstance surrounding the official unveiling of the Boeing 787 on Sunday, this weekend the planemaker announced yet another new order for the popular plane. ALAFCO Aviation Lease and Finance Company of Kuwait held a formal signing ceremony Saturday for the direct purchase of 10 787-8 Dreamliners.

Valued at $1.62 billion at list prices, the new purchase builds on an order for 12 787s ALAFCO announced in March 2007. The Sharia-based leasing and finance company was the first Middle East customer to finalize its order for the highly sought-after Dreamliner, and ALAFCO has successfully placed its first 12 787s with Kuwait Airways.

Scott Carson, Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and CEO, hosted today's event at Seattle's Harbor Club, where guest of honor Mr. Ahmad Alzabin, ALAFCO's chairman and CEO, signed the order for the additional airplanes.

"We're proud to be the first Middle Eastern company to purchase the 787-8 and we're extremely pleased to have quickly placed all of the 787s in our initial order with Kuwait Airways," said Mr. Alzabin. "We have decided to move quickly on acquiring additional 787s as we see continued strong market demand for this revolutionary airplane and we wish to offer airlines the airplane that is setting new standards in operational efficiency and reliability."

ALAFCO became a publicly traded company in October 2006. It currently has airplanes on lease with nine carriers worldwide.

"Our strong association with ALAFCO, as well as having 787s flying with Kuwait Airways, truly demonstrates Boeing's focus in the Middle East market," said Carson. "We are determined to build upon our regional relationships to establish an even stronger foundation for future business - one that will continue to focus on meeting our customers' expectations and providing airplanes and services that help them be successful."

Boeing Says Qatar Airways Is Latest Dreamliner Customer

Eagle-eyed viewers of Sunday's unveiling ceremony for the 787 -- meaning those not lulled to sleep by the series of well-deserved... but droning... speeches, acknowledgements, and video presentations ahead of the "roll-in" of the actual plane --- spotted what proved to be a telling bit of graphical knowledge. During a showing of tail designs for all 47 announced Dreamliner buyers, another was slipped in: the tail of a Qatar Airways plane.

As ANN reported, last month Qatar refused to either confirm or deny it had agreed to purchase as many as 30 787s. Qatar currently operates an all-Airbus fleet, although earlier this year the airline placed an order for 22 new Boeing 777s.

In a statement Monday, Boeing confirmed the showing of a Qatar tail was no accident... but a spokesman hastily added "I cannot comment on their order."

For its part, Qatar representatives remain mum on the deal. In response to a report in the UK's Sunday Express, the airline said it had "nothing to announce" regarding a possible 787 order.

The airline placed an order for 80 Airbus A350 XWBs -- rival to the 787 -- at this year's Paris Air Show.

FMI: www.boeing.com, www.alafco-kw.com/alafco/