Spain’s Air Europa has ordered up to 16 Rolls-Royce Trent 1000-powered Boeing 787-8 aircraft in an apparent reversal of its decision to take Airbus A350s for long-haul operations.
Air Europa was the first airline to express formal interest in the original A350 design, and placed an order for 10, but did not convert the order when Airbus revamped the design as the A350 XWB.
Airbus chief commercial officer for customers John Leahy expressed doubts in Toulouse last week that Air Europa would re-commit to the European twin-jet.
Rival Boeing has today identified the Palma de Mallorca-based operator as the customer for eight firm 787-8s previously listed in the airframer’s order books for 2007.
Air Europa managing director Maria Jose Hidalgo says: “After further development of the 787 by Boeing, it became very clear to our pilots, our fleet planners and our accountants that the 787 would deliver the best economics while also offering superior satisfaction for our passengers.”
The airline will use the jets on services to Argentina, Mexico and the Dominican Republic.
Boeing adds that the carrier has taken purchase rights on a further eight 787s. It values the agreement at $1.3 billion at catalogue prices.
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Source: FlightGlobal.com
