Taiwanese carrier EVA Airways has finalized a deal to buy up to two dozen North Charleston-made 787-10s, the largest single commercial airplane purchase in the island nation’s aviation industry and one of the biggest orders for the Boeing Dreamliner program.
Meanwhile, Boeing Co. reached a milestone with its 350th Dreamliner delivery this week. It’s not clear which of the 787-9 deliveries — one for British Airways, the other for All Nippon Airways — will count as No. 350. The mark comes a little more than four years after Boeing started delivering the Dreamliners, which it makes in North Charleston and Everett, Wash.
Boeing has delivered 10 787s this month — with another four planned for November — and 122 year to date, according to a database maintained by New York investment banker and Dreamliner enthusiast Uresh Sheth.
The newly finalized EVA Airways order, which also will include two 777-300ER planes, is valued at more than $8 billion at list prices, although airlines frequently negotiate lower prices.
“We believe the future of the airline industry will be built on fuel efficiency and cabin comfort,” Austin Cheng, the carrier’s president, said in a statement Tuesday. “The new Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner’s high fuel efficiency and long-range flying capabilities meets these requirements and our operational needs. These planes will support our growth well into the future.”
The 787-10 is the largest version of the Dreamliner. It will be built exclusively at Boeing’s campus in North Charleston. Production will start next year with the first 787-10 scheduled for delivery in 2018.
“For many years, EVA Air has been pushing the boundaries of aviation,” Ray Conner, CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said in a statement. “With today’s order, Boeing is proud to continue playing an integral role in revolutionizing Taiwan’s aviation history as EVA becomes one of the first customers around the world to operate the 787-10.”
EVA Airways continues to modernize its long-haul fleet to replace aging aircraft and plans to grow to more than 100 planes by 2020. The 787-10s will allow the airline to expand into new markets. They will be deployed on medium-range and long-haul flights and will be operated in tandem with the 777-300ERs to form the backbone of EVA Airways’ fleet.
EVA Airways currently operates more than 40 Boeing airplanes and with today’s order, the airline’s backlog will increase to 37 airplanes, which includes 14 777-300ERs, five 777 Freighters and 18 787-10s.
Source: http://www.postandcourier.com
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