Saudi Airlines buys Boeing planes

Reuters on Yahoo ^ | 11/7/10 | Helen Chernikoff

[NormsRevenge]

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Saudi Arabian Airlines ordered 12 Boeing 777-300 "Extended Range" (ER) planes for $3.3 billion, in addition to eight 787 Dreamliners, Boeing (BA.N)said on Sunday.

The Saudi national carrier, which is in the process of being privatized, also took out an option for 10 more 777s.

"Our decision to order the 777-300 ER is part of a long-term growth strategy to expand and modernize our fleet with newer, more fuel-efficient airplanes," said Khaled al-Mulhim, director general of Saudi Arabian Airlines.

The carrier did not give the price for the Dreamliner order.

Saudi Airlines has a fleet of more than 114 planes, including 35 Boeings and 35 Airbus A320s. The new order will raise the number of Boeing 777 planes in the Saudi fleet to 35.

According to the U.S. company's website, as of November 2, the world's second-largest commercial plane-maker after Airbus has taken orders for a net total of 48 777s in 2010.

Boeing had orders for 847 787 Dreamliners on its books. It had a net loss of four 787s for 2010 as of November 2.

[NormsRevenge]

747s always worked for me.. I don’t need a disco onboard when I fly.. cruising , Yes. but hey.

Anyone fly on any of the latest greatest big birds lately?

[the invisib1e hand]

i guess it’s a win when an oil-rich nation says it’s gonna buy planes from a unionized, multi-national corporation subject to such regulatory compliance that it’s every move is a virtual government diktat.

[Secret Agent Man]

Hopefully not considered to be used for hitting more buildings. Seriously.

[Yo-Yo]

Ordering 777-300ERs doesn’t bode well for the A350-1000

[MissyMack66]

Made in India, no doubt.

[rmlew]

Made in India, no doubt.
Wing assembly in China.

[DennisR]

Actually, the A350 will compete directly with the 787, not 777.

[Yo-Yo]

Sorry, Dennis, you are misinformed about the A350-1000.

A350-1000

The A350-1000, which has an 11-frame stretch over the -900, is scheduled to enter service at the end of 2015. It is the largest variant of the A350 family and will seat 350 passengers in a 3-class cabin 9-abreast layout. It will have range of 14,800 km (8,000 nmi). It is designed to compete with the Boeing 777-300ER and replace the A340-600.

[CodeToad]

Plus the 86 F-15s. Not bad. Boeing is raking it in.

[wolf78]

Actually, the A350 will compete directly with the 787, not 777.

The A350 is slightly bigger than the 787 - intentionally so. So it can compete with both the bigger 787 variants and the aging 777, just like the A330 slotted in slightly above the 767.