Originally Posted by ur2
You can probably bet your left one that they will get more than the 12 in the original order.
The original order is 45 B787s firm and twenty options. The first 15 are -8s and all the rest are -9s. The current plan is for the first 10 aircraft to go to Jetstar and the next five to go to QF mainline. Then the deliveries of the -9s start and the first 10 go to Jetstar. As each -9 is delivered a -8 will be transferred to mainline so that Jetstar fleet ends up as 10 B787-9s. Mainline will have 15 B787-8s (for mainly domestic and trans Tasman operations) and 20 B787-9s (international operations). The plans also provide for further firm orders.
I believe that these plans are reasonably firm as to how the aircraft will be utilised - the only issue is who will be flying them. If the Jetstar pilots want to be wet leased and fly B787s on mainline operations then they will have to sell their soul again (I'm not sure that they can sell your soul a third time)