Wed, Dec 20, 2006
787-9 Launch Customer Now Has Eight Planes On Order
Business is booming for many overseas airlines, including
national carrier Air New Zealand. More business means more
planes... and on Tuesday, the airline announced the purchase of
four more Boeing 787-9 airliners. The new order doubles the number
of Dreamliners heading for New Zealand.
CBS Marketwatch reports the deal is worth nearly $695 million at
list prices, although the airline says it received a "significant"
discount as it was one of the first international carriers to order
the 787.
"These new aircraft will provide Air New Zealand with a solid
platform to realize its growth ambitions over the next decade,"
said Nathan Agnew, the airline's general manager for strategic
development. "Given their capability to fly direct to regions like
South Africa, India, South America, Asia and deep into China and
North America, we will have some exciting new opportunities to
pursue."
Air New Zealand is the launch customer for Boeing's 787-9,
currently the flagship model for the Dreamliner line (that may
change if Boeing goes ahead with a rumored -10 model.) The first
aircraft is to be introduced into service in 2011.
"We look forward to working with this key customer to arrive at
a firm agreement to provide efficient and comfortable airplanes
that will meet the airline's and its passengers' needs," Boeing
said in a prepared statement.
This is not the first time Air New Zealand has doubled its
Dreamliner order. After placing an initial order for two -9s in
June 2004, the airline doubled that order in October 2005.
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