Orders Bring Total To Date To 491
Regardless of whether you're a Boeing fan or an Airbus
aficinado, you have to respect the number of orders the American
planemaker has attracted with its upcoming 787... a plane that is
still months away from its first flight. On Thursday, Boeing
confirmed two more purchase agreements for the
composite-bodied airliner, including the first order to date from a
South American airline.
That would be Avianca Airlines, which ordered 10 787-8s with
purchase rights for another 10 frames. The order, valued at $1.5
billion at list prices, is also the largest 787 order to date for
Latin America.
Avianca made the announcement at an event attended by German
Efromovich, President of the Synergy group which owns Avianca;
Avianca President Fabio Villegas; and some 400 dignitaries
including Colombian Vice President Francisco Santos Calderon,
United States Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Milton Drucker,
regional country representatives and Avianca and Boeing
employees.
"This order reaffirms the enduring relationship Boeing has
maintained with this historic airline for 70 years," said John
Wojick, vice president, Sales, Latin America and the Caribbean --
Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "With the 787, Avianca will be able to
provide its passengers with the very best in long-range air travel
including larger windows, higher cabin humidity, more space and a
lower cabin altitude."
"Today's purchase ratifies our commitment to transform Avianca
into the leading airline in Latin America," Efromovich said. "We
will be the first to offer passengers in our market the most
advanced technology guaranteeing more comfortable and pleasurable
flights."
Avianca is Colombia's largest airline and the second oldest
commercial airline in the world.
Boeing also told ANN Thursday aircraft leasing company LCAL
added one more 787-9 to its previous order, bringing the total
number of Dreamliners ordered by the company to 15, in a mix of -8
and larger -9 variants. LCAL established itself in 2005 as an
aircraft leasing company providing lease services exclusively with
the 787, and was the the first leasing company to order the
aircraft.
LCAL's total order is valued at $1.2 billion list, according to
Boeing. The company's website indicates the 787 series is nine
orders away from hitting the 500-order mark.
Did we mention it hasn't flown yet?