787 sales reach 191

[Mode7]

SEATTLE, Feb. 4, 2005 – Boeing [NYSE: BA] and Ethiopian Airlines today announced a preliminary agreement for up to 10 Boeing 787 Dreamliner passenger planes that will make the airline the first Africa-based operator of the super-efficient, all-new jetliner.

Valued at $1.3 billion at list prices, the agreement involves five firm orders and purchase rights for five more. The first plane is scheduled for delivery to Addis Ababa, the airline’s home base, in 2008.

“You just can’t ignore how far Boeing has advanced the technology of commercial aviation with the 787 Dreamliner,” said Ethiopian Airlines CEO Ato Girma Wake. “The 787 represents the future—one in which Ethiopian Airlines will play a major part—and we view this airplane to be a cutting-edge solution to bolster our passenger service, improve our efficiencies and add to the airline’s bottom line.”

With this agreement, Boeing has 191 announced firm orders and commitments for the 787 from 15 airlines.

“Airlines all over the world are embracing the 787 because it provides what passengers really want: convenient, comfortable and affordable nonstop flights that take them where they want to go, when they want to go there. The 787’s advantages for passengers and airlines are unmatched by any airplane offered in the market today or in the foreseeable future,” said Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Alan Mulally. “We are proud of Ethiopian Airlines’ pioneering spirit and we share its goal of maintaining innovative leadership in commercial aviation”
As a member of the 787 launch customer team, Ethiopian Airlines becomes a key partner in developing the 787 family of airplanes.

Boeing’s partnership with Ethiopian Airlines dates back some 50 years. Ethiopian Airlines has long played a leading role in the development of commercial aviation on the African continent.

Among its many firsts, the carrier initiated jet service there when it added a Boeing 720B in 1963.

Today, it operates an all-Boeing jet fleet of 737 and 767 airplanes. By ordering the versatile and technologically ground-breaking 787, Ethiopian Airlines sets the stage for continued growth and realization of its motto of linking Africa to the world, while benefiting from the airplane’s superior efficiency and unmatched comfort.

The 787 is a family of airplanes in the 200- to 300-seat class that will carry passengers on routes between 3,500 and 8,500 nautical miles (6,500 to 16,000 kilometers), such as between Beijing to New York City, Guangzhou to London, and Shanghai to Los Angeles. The 787 will allow airlines to offer passengers more of what they want: affordable, comfortable, nonstop, point-to-point travel to more destinations around the world.

The airplane will use 20 percent less fuel than today's airplanes of comparable size, and provide customers with up to 45 percent more cargo revenue capacity. Passengers will find significant innovations including a new interior environment with higher humidity, wider seats and aisles, larger windows, and other conveniences.

[Mark Lewis]

Anyone else think that $1.3 billion could been spent slightly more wisely by the Ethiopian government?

[Caslance]

Hmmm.... that's a bit of a grey area, but on the whole it does leave one with at least a slight sense of unease.

[go_edw]

you'll probably find that order will attract a $5bn aid package from the US in two weeks time

[ElectroVlasic]

Anyone else think that $1.3 billion could been spent slightly more wisely by the Ethiopian government?

Yeah, how dumb it is to make it easier for businessmen, tourists and aid workers to get to Ethiopia and its neighbors...

you'll probably find that order will attract a $5bn aid package from the US in two weeks time

Too bad there isn't an arms embargo we could drop. Not only wouldn't we have to lay out money, we'd get money back!

[16 blades]

787? Wasn't this called the 7E7 last time I looked?

...or am I just dull?

16B

[PAXboy]

“Airlines all over the world are embracing the 787 because it provides what passengers really want: convenient, comfortable and affordable nonstop flights that take them where they want to go, when they want to go there. from Alan Mulally

Actually, I have travelled several flights that are, comfortable and affordable nonstop flights that take them where they want to go, when they want to go there. that were on Airbus machines. I do like the way Mr Mulally makes it sound as if Boeing have personnally agreed the routes, scheduled the flights and cleaned the a/c.

--------------------
"I tell you, we are here on Earth to fart around, and don't let anybody tell you any different." Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

[WHBM]

787 sales reach 191

and

Boeing and Ethiopian Airlines today announced a preliminary agreement for up to 10 Boeing 787 Dreamliner passenger planes

Well a "preliminary agreement" for "up to 10" is certainly not a sale of another 10, and if Boeing is going to count every little expression of interest as a sale they are really scraping the PR barrel.

Oh and by the way I'm with the others who think that the Ethiopian Govt airline has surely got better things to do with their money currently than go for the latest aviation technology. Now if Boeing had GIVEN the Ethiopians one of the last 767s, say, that would be altogether more meritorious. It's the sort of unwise expenditure third world countries get talked into by overbearing western salesmen which then leads to debt that cripples the country and gives no benefit whatsoever to the local population, but which, in parallel moves this week, we in the west are then expected to write off as if the money had been borrowed to feed the starving population.

[Mode7]

16 Blades - catch up and pay attention will you boy!! it changed several weeks ago now

[BahrainLad]

...such as between Beijing to New York City, Guangzhou to London, and Shanghai to Los Angeles. The 787 will allow airlines to offer passengers more of what they want: affordable, comfortable, nonstop, point-to-point travel to more destinations around the world.

Now, can anyone spot the inherent contradiction in this particularly wonderful peice of PR-babble?

Hint: bold.

[tom de luxe]

Guangzhou to London

Why, there's absolutely no shortage of slots, nor are there any other capacity issues, at... erm... STN? LTN? Southend? London (RAF Brize Norton)?
BTW, what is everybody's educated guess for min runway length for a 787 at MTOW?

[colegate]

It already looks as if the 787 is outselling the 777 which itself is by far the fastest selling wide-body type in production. Any advances on 400 sold before rollout?

My guess is that the 777 will sell more than 2,000 copies and the 787 will easily beat that. Boeing have got it absolutely right with both aircraft.

It is perhaps just as interesting that the Trent engine is the dominant engine on both types.

Just look at two examples of what aircraft technology has done to market growth. The 737-200 Adv opened up the UK regional market for package holidays to thre Canaries and Greece. Result; a huge increase in demand. The 757 reduced seat mile costs dramatically and caused a huge increase in demand for leisure flying in Europe.

The 787 will revolutionise long haul flying by opening vast numbers of non-stop flights between places that cannot be served now. Boeing know that and Airbus have missed out on that vast new segment of air travel.

[Jamesair]

A gap in the airbus stable which is shortly to be filled by the development of the A350

[ElectroVlasic]

Oh and by the way I'm with the others who think that the Ethiopian Govt airline has surely got better things to do with their money currently than go for the latest aviation technology.

Lots of nations pumped money into their airlines over the last few decades. UK, France, Greece and Italy come to mind. One wonders why folks in the first world wait till after their national champions are up and running full steam to hobble third world competition. It's not like there are no hungry people in the first world either! And what of the benefits of aviation to the Ethiopian economy? You would think it wouldn't be too hard to think of them on an aviation bulletin board. Why should they have to try to provide aviation services using high maintenence, inefficient equipment? How do you know that the equipment is not paying for itself directly, or indirectly by bringing in businessmen, tourists and aid workers? Or should that job be reserved for the national champions of first world countries?

Now if Boeing had GIVEN the Ethiopians one of the last 767s, say, that would be altogether more meritorious. It's the sort of unwise expenditure third world countries get talked into by overbearing western salesmen which then leads to debt that cripples the country and gives no benefit whatsoever to the local population, but which, in parallel moves this week, we in the west are then expected to write off as if the money had been borrowed to feed the starving population.

First you propose to give away other people's money (i.e. Boeing's), then you complain when your own elected officials give away your own money? Maybe you should send your own money to Ethiopia, or maybe you should be writing your elected officials, instead of writing on prune, at least then you have some chance of getting your way. Sorry for the vitriol, but you are making very little sense to me.

[eal401]

businessmen, tourists and aid workers

Um, the businessmen would go on the existing aircraft (or are they suddenly going to be u/s when the 787 enters service). Tourists in Ethiopia? Are there many?
Aid workers. As businessmen or travel with the aircraft carrying the aid.

As for the aid, why do we need to be giving them any if they can spend $1.3bn on aircraft?

[MarkD]

Jamesair

The gap in the Airbus product line will not be filled until they replace the passenger and freight variants of A310/A300 (and B757/762) series with a 787-300 competitor.

The 350 is a 330 evolution which will not suffice for routes too big and/or far for a 321.

[one ball]

eel

Rather than jumping into a sniping opportunity, look here for Ethiopian tourism link. Found in less than a minute with google, a "Search Engine."

Also, try to imagine the big picture on foreign aid vs trade. Cash changing hands. Get it?

We sell, they buy, gov't gives back, frogs lose. Simple really.

Course, that's the royal "we"...

[Jerricho]

offer passengers more of what they want: affordable, comfortable,

Yeah right. What's that seat pitch going to be?

Just like the A380 is going to have gyms and bars and alike. I call bullsh*t.

[eal401]

Rather than jumping into a sniping opportunity

Nah, that'll be your job, no balls.

[ElectroVlasic]

Some of you may find this interesting. Here's a fair use quote.

Criticizing institutions is a favourite pastime for some Ethiopians and Africans. Criticizing airlines is a favourite topic for many air travellers. But occasionally we have something to recognize, appreciate and celebrate. We should congratulate Ethiopian Airlines.

Lately I have been travelling frequently on Ethiopian Airlines, primarily within Africa. This is a time when Africa's ability to run modern institutions in any sustainable way is widely doubted. Pessimism is defining Africa's prospects, and hampering its ability to get things done. Institutions that are modern and compete on a global scale are either non-existent or too few to mention.

I was thinking about this during one of these long ET flights from West Africa, when it dawned on me that after all, I was sitting there, sitting as the guest of an institution that is modern, successfully competing globally, and by and large, profitably, and is African.