Asian firms lead line for world's longest plane
Asian firms lead line for world's longest plane
LE BOURGET, France (AFP): Boeing yesterday launched a stretched version of its new Boeing 777 passenger jet at the French air show, with Japan's ANA and several other Asian firms placing the first orders for what will be the world's longest passenger craft.
The company said it had received a total of 31 orders for the new plane, of which 20 were new orders and the rest conversions of earlier orders for other aircraft.
All those orders were from Asian companies, the company said: Japan's All Nippon Airways (ANA), Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific, South Korea's Korean Airways and Thai Airways International.
The total package when all 20 new orders were confirmed, along with commitments for the conversions, would be worth US$3.1 billion, the company noted.
The catalog price of the new version is to be set between $145 million and $165 million, $15 million to $20 million up on the standard version.
In Tokyo, ANA confirmed it was placing firm orders for 10 of the new twin-engined 777-300X planes, worth a total of $1.5 billion, delivery to be made from 1998.
In Seoul, Korean Air (KAL) said it would buy four of the new planes for $560 million.
The deal was sealed here in an accord between KAL president Cho Yang-Ho and his Boeing counterpart Ron Woodard.
A KAL official in the South Korean capital said the first of the four stretch versions would be delivered in the second half of 1998 and go into service soon afterward.
Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific announced it had ordered seven Boeing 777-300s at the current Paris Air Show, becoming the third regional airline to buy the new twin-engine.
A Cathay spokesman said the first delivery was due in May 1998, but did not say how much the deal was worth.
Thai International Airways has ordered six aircraft, the company said.
However in Bangkok, a Thai official said no 777-300 aircraft had been ordered although eight 777-200s were scheduled to be delivered from next year.
The new aircraft will be the longest passenger plane in the world, at 73.9 meters (244 feet) 3.2 meters (over 10 feet) longer than the same company's 747-400 model. It will be capable of seating 480 passengers.
A long-awaited contract with Saudi Arabia's national carrier, Saudia, was also expected to include the new 777 planes, industry sources said here.
ANA, Japan's largest domestic carrier, said that the new aircraft would be much quieter and consume less fuel than existing large jets.
"This superiority in terms of environmental factors and fuel efficiency, as well as comfort levels, were among the major factors influencing ANA's selection," it said in a statement.
The ANA and KAL versions would be fitted with US Pratt and Whitney engines.
ANA said it would "continue working closely with the manufacturer" on the specifications of the stretched model, which will replace 747 aircraft. The airline has already placed 18 firm orders for the 777-200, the first of which is scheduled to be delivered in October with services starting in December.
Woodard said the launch of the 777-300X version would be effective as of the end of June once formally approved by directors. It would then be known as the B777-300. Boeing believes its running cost will be up to 50 percent cheaper than that of the previous generation of 747-100s.