More Boeing 787 Dreamliners for Qantas

Qantas has announced it is to buy 20 more Boeing 787 aircraft and convert 20 purchase rights into options for the new generation Dreamliner.

The additional aircraft will take Qantas’ existing order of the Dreamliner to 85 – 65 firm aircraft and 20 option aircraft. Qantas also has a further 30 purchase rights for the Boeing 787.

The Chief Executive of Qantas, Mr Geoff Dixon, in the US for the rollout of the first Boeing 787 Dreamliner, said the 787s would be used by the Qantas Group’s two major brands, Qantas and Jetstar, for both domestic and international flying.

“The additional aircraft will better enable Qantas and Jetstar to take advantage of growth opportunities for point-to point flying in the Asia Pacific region and to new international destinations in Europe, India and the Americas.”

Qantas ordered 45 firm 787s, 20 options and 50 purchase rights in December 2005.

“The B787’s fuel efficiency and resultant lower seat mile cost will enable Qantas and Jetstar to expand more rapidly, particularly in Asia Pacific, the world’s fastest growing aviation region.”

The Qantas Group is expecting to take delivery of its first B787-8 aircraft in July next year.

“The first 15 aircraft will be used by Jetstar, accelerating the growth of its international operations. In line with the company’s two brand philosophy, subsequent deliveries will be allocated between Qantas and Jetstar on the basis of the best returns for the group.”

From 2011 the group expects to begin to take delivery of the 787-9 aircraft, the stretched version of the 787-8, which will have greater passenger capacity and range.

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