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BA orders Boeings for long-haul fleet
British Airways has ordered four Boeing 777-200 ER aircraft as a first step towards expanding its long-haul fleet.
The aircraft are due for delivery in 2009 and BA has taken out options on another four for delivery the following year.
The list price for a new Boeing 777-200 ER is $201 million per aircraft.
Commercial director Robert Boyle said:”These new aircraft will enable us to grow our long-haul business after we move to Terminal 5.
“It was a close decision between the Boeing 777s and Airbus A330s. However, the ease of assimilating up to eight aircraft into our existing 777 fleet, rather than having a small number of A330s, swung the balance in Boeing’sfavour.
“We are confident of a similarly competitive approach from both manufacturers as we move towards our major long-haul fleet renewal and expansion order later this year.”
Negotiations continue with GE and Rolls Royce about which engines will be used on the new Boeing 777 aircraft.
BA said it is considering the Airbus A330, Airbus A350, Airbus A380, Boeing 787, Boeing 777 and Boeing 747-8.
The first aircraft to be replaced will be 20 Boeing 747s and 14 Boeing 767s, the oldest of which are currently 17 years old.
In addition, BA has turned options for four Airbus A320 short-haul aircraft into firm orders. These will be delivered in 2008 to replace Airbus A320 family aircraft that are leaving the fleet.
By Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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