After a prolonged contest, Polish flag-carrier LOT has selected the Boeing 787 over the rival Airbus A350 to replace its long-haul fleet of 767s, opting to acquire seven baseline 787-8s and up to seven stretched 787-9s. The aircraft will be equipped with Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines, writes David Kaminski-Morrow.
Deliveries of the 787s will begin in 2008. In the interim, Boeing has agreed a bridging plan to guarantee LOT a number of 767s until the 787s arrive. As well as the seven 787s the airline will lease, LOT has placed options on two 787-9s and secured purchase rights on five more.
LOT president and chief executive Marek Grabarek says: “Replacing our 767s with the all-new 787 allows us to lead with new and innovative passenger-comfort features on our North Atlantic operations and will be key in opening new Asian destinations.”
Under the agreement, the options could be exercised between 2011 and 2019.
Boeing values the order at $910 million at catalogue prices, excluding the options and purchase rights. The manufacturer says LOT will be the first European carrier to receive the 787.
LOT has been under intense political pressure from both the US and European camps over its fleet renewal.
The carrier’s main shareholder, the Polish treasury ministry, even advised LOT to conduct an independent review of its plans to ensure the final decision was sound.
Airbus had regarded LOT as a potential European launch customer for the A350 and, as a new member of the European Union, Poland had faced strong lobbying from the French, German and UK governments.
Source: Flight International
