Eva Air’s planned order for 24 Boeing 787-10 aircraft is an important boost for the variant in the Asia-Pacific region.

Although Boeing’s stopped short of naming the commitment a formal order, the airframer’s 15 October statement about the potential transaction suggests this will just be a formality. The deal also has provisions for two additional 777-300ERs.

Asia-Pacific operators have been relatively slow to adopt the -10. Singapore Airlines launched the stretched variant with firm orders for 30 examples, but the only other Asian carrier to formally commit to the variant is ANA, which has just three on order. With one stroke, the Eva deal has nearly doubled Asia-Pacific commitments to the -10.

In-service 787 fleet by region

787 in service by region

Flightglobal Fleets Analyzer

The deal is blow to Airbus. As recently as March, Eva’s executive vice president of corporate planning Glenn Chai told Flightglobal the carrier was leaning toward the A350-900 for the requirement.

The 787 has become an increasingly common sight at Asia-Pacific airports. Flightglobal’s Fleets Analyzer shows that there are 323 787s in service globally.

Of these in-service 787s, 148 are in service in Asia-Pacific, with the rest distributed among other regions. In Asia-Pacific itself, Japanese carriers are the biggest users of the 787, while All Nippon Airways operates 42 examples and Japan Airlines 23.

787 orderbook by region

787 order book

Flightglobal Fleets Analyzer

Of the Asia-Pacific in-service 787 fleet aircraft, 125 examples are 787-8s and 23 are -9s.

Despite significant deliveries of the type to Asia-Pacific carriers since 2011, the region still dominates the order book for 787s with 191 examples, ahead of 171 for North American carriers and 169 for European carriers.

That said, the 191 order number is all but certainly on the low side, and it does not yet include the Eva deal, which will likely push it to 215.

Asia-Pacific 787 operators

AP 787 operators

Flightglobal Fleets Analyzer

Of 191 confirmed orders just 15 are going to China. Boeing’s order book also has 49 787s (two -8s and 47 -9s) earmarked for unannounced commercial customers, and in all probability a large portion of these jets will go to China.

Moreover, on 24 September Boeing issued a vague statement that China Aviation Supplies Holding Company, which buys jets for China’s airlines, would obtain 190 737s and 50 unspecified widebodies. Some of these aircraft, when confirmed, will likely be 787s.

Source: Cirium Dashboard

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