Carriers Exercise Options For More Dreamliners

Boeing is keeping mum, but reports from the Land Down Under indicate Qantas Airways has added 20 more planes to its original 45-frame order for Boeing's 787 Dreamliner.

The New Zealand Herald reports Qantas CEO Geoff Dixon also added options for 20 more 787s, by converting purchase rights. The airline has 30 additional purchase rights for Dreamliners, which it may or may not choose to exercise.

The new order makes Qantas the second-largest customer for the 787, behind American leasing company International Lease Finance Corporation.

Qantas placed its original 65-plane order in December 2005. The airline is scheduled to accept its first 787 in July 2008.

There may also be more good news for Boeing from Virgin Atlantic, which the Herald reports is also interested in ordering up to eight more 787s.

"It is looking like a great aircraft, with the benefits of lower carbon emissions and the ability to fly further non-stop," a spokesman for the airline said. "We are confident it will be a mainstay of our fleet."

Exercising options for eight more planes would bring Virgin Atlantic's total order to 23 planes.

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