Air Pacific orders Five Boeing 787 Dreamliners

Air Pacific, the flag carrier of the South Pacific island republic of Fiji, has ordered five Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, with three additional purchase rights.

With this announcement, total orders for the Boeing 787 family have reached 350 airplanes from 26 customers.

The first of the long-range, high-technology jetliners will be delivered in 2011 and will fly the airline’s key routes from Nadi, Fiji, to Australia, New Zealand, North America and Japan. The new Dreamliners will eventually replace two Boeing 747-400s and one 767-300ER. No list price is currently published for the 787-9 model.

“This is a momentous decision for Air Pacific that has taken many months of detailed study and negotiation,” said Gerald Barrack, chairman of Air Pacific, Ltd. “I am pleased with the price negotiated and the certainty this decision provides for Air Pacific, for the future of air transport links within the Pacific and particularly for the future growth of Fiji’s tourism and export industries.”

“We are delighted to have concluded an extensive evaluation and negotiation, and are convinced that the right aircraft has been selected,” said John Campbell, Air Pacific managing director and CEO. “The Boeing 787-9 offers significantly decreased operating and maintenance costs, lower fuel consumption and increased passenger comfort, all vital considerations in an aviation world that is intensely competitive and subject to high fuel costs for the foreseeable future.”

Air Pacific has yet to choose between GE Aircraft Engines' GEnx or Rolls-Royce's Trent 1000 powerplants for its new airplanes.

Air Pacific began operations in 1951 and expanded as tourism and export markets grew. The airline was the region’s inaugural customer for the Boeing Next-Generation 737 family with an order in 1996, followed by the 1998 delivery of a 737-700 and the 1999 delivery of two 737-800s.

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