FROM: Willie Walsh, Chief Executive
TO: All mail users
We have today placed an order for 12 Airbus A380 aircraft and 24 Boeing 787 aircraft with options for a further seven Airbus A380s and 18 Boeing 787s.
Environmental factors were a key consideration in our order, the largest since 1998. The aircraft we have selected are greener and quieter, with both the A380 and B787 rated as producing a quarter of the noise level of the B747-400.
They are also more fuel efficient with significantly lower carbon dioxide emissions and reduced impact on local air quality. They will contribute significantly to our target of improving fuel efficiency by 25 per cent between 2005 and 2025.
In terms of CO2 emissions per seat, the A380’s performance will be 17 per cent cleaner than the Boeing 747-400’s, and the B787’s performance 30 per cent cleaner than the B767’s. In terms of NOx emissions, an A380 produces 10 per cent less than a B747-400, and a B787 produces 46 per cent less than a B767.
At the same time we have announced that Rolls-Royce engines will power both aircraft types. The A380s will be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines and the B787s will be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines. The engine order includes a lifetime maintenance contract.
The aircraft we have ordered will replace 34 of our longhaul fleet - 20 B747-400s and 14 longhaul B767s - and will be delivered between 2010 and 2014.
Today’s announcement reflects the considerable work we have undertaken in recent years to strengthen our cost base, resolving the NAPS pension deficit, reducing debt, returning to an investment grade credit rating and making significant progress towards our goal of a 10 per cent operating margin.
Modernising our fleet also demonstrates our on-going commitment to providing the best travel experience possible. We have renewed our award-winning Club World cabin, introduced a new inflight entertainment system and continue to make improvements to ba.com. Next year we will have the best airport experience in the world with the opening of Terminal 5 and within a few years we will boast one of the youngest aircraft fleets in the sky.
Today’s order, including options, also gives us the ability to grow capacity by up to four per cent per year and the flexibility to tailor future capacity growth in line with market conditions.
The A380 will be used to provide more capacity for the airline’s key high-density markets and maximise use of scarce Heathrow slots. The B787 will be used to start new routes and increase frequencies in existing markets.
Following today’s order we are continuing to consider the most suitable aircraft to replace our remaining B747-400 aircraft and are examining the B787-10, B777-300 ER and A350XWB.