"..GOoooooooooooooooooooooo BOEING, ............and screw AirTruck.................
Air Canada raises Dreamliner order
Apr 24, 2007 10:48 AM - Canadian Press
MONTREAL – Air Canada has exercised options and purchase rights on 23 Boeing 787 aircraft, bringing its firm orders to 37 Dreamliners, up from the 14 originally announced.
Deliveries are to start in 2010. The revised agreement includes options on 23 additional 787s for a total of up to 60, as Air Canada "becomes the largest North American customer for the Dreamliner, the world's most advanced aircraft," the airline stated Tuesday.
"As we take delivery of new fuel-efficient aircraft, we are removing older aircraft from the fleet to create one of the youngest, most efficient, customer-friendly fleets in the world," said Montie Brewer, Air Canada's president and chief executive officer.
"The Boeing 787 aircraft features better operational performance in terms of speed and flight range, providing us with the ability to serve new markets that could not be previously served in an efficient manner."
While expanding its 787 order, Air Canada is trimming its purchase of Boeing 777s by two units. The 335-plane airline, which took delivery of its first 777 on March 30, expects to be flying 17 by the end of next year.
The new Boeing aircraft will replace the carrier's Airbus A340 and A330 and Boeing 767 airliners. Fuel and maintenance costs for the 787 are estimated at 30 per cent less than a 767.
Air Canada said the U.S. Export-Import Bank has finalized loan guarantees for seven 777s being delivered this year, and offered a preliminary commitment covering the remaining 777s arriving in 2008 and 14 787s due in 2010 and 2011.
Montreal-based Air Canada also announced that on June 30 it will launch the only daily non-stop service between Gander, N.L., and Halifax.
The flights will be operated by Air Canada Jazz (TSX: JAZ.UN) using 50-seat Bombardier CRJ regional jets and 37-seat Dash 8-100 turboprop aircraft during the summer and CRJs in the winter.
. |
