Singapore Airlines is set to place a firm order for 20 Boeing 777-9s and 19 787-10s, after agreeing a letter of intent with Boeing.
The airline has confirmed the deal, valued at $13.8 billion, which includes six options for each type. If exercised, it will bring the total to as many as 51 aircraft.
The 777-9s will be delivered from 2021 onwards, while the 787-10s will start to arrive a year earlier. SIA will also have the option to substitute the 787-10 orders for other variants of the 787 family.
SIA says the 777-9s will be primarily used on long-haul routes, while the 787-10s will be operated on medium-range routes. It has chosen the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 to power the 787s, while the General Electric GE9X remains the sole powerplant on offer for the 777X.
“Today’s major order for widebody aircraft enables us to continue operating a modern and fuel-efficient fleet, providing the SIA Group with additional expansion opportunities to ensure that we retain our industry-leading position,” said SIA chief executive Goh Choon Phong.
“We are continuing to invest for the future of the SIA Group. This order is also another demonstration of our commitment to further growing the Singapore hub, as we will be able to offer even more travel options for our customers.”
SIA is already a launch customer for the 787-10, having placed an initial order in 2013 for 30 due for delivery from 2018 onwards. Flight Fleets Analyzer shows that SIA operates a fleet of 109 aircraft and has another 57 Airbus A350-900s on order.
FlightGlobal