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.