Boeing Commercial Airplanes has finalized an order for four new 787-9 Dreamliners with Air Lease Corp., an aircraft-leasing group. ALC also exercised options for four Boeing Next-Generation 737-800 jets, making the order worth more than $1.2-billion, Boeing said.
ALC was established last year, and already has orders in place with Boeing for 74 Next-Generation 737-800s and five 777-300ER (Extended Range) jets.
"This order is a continuation of Air Lease Corporation's disciplined approach to building its fleet," stated senior v.p. for Sales and Customer Support, Ray Conner. "Air Lease Corporation has positioned itself for success since starting business early last year. These 787-9 Dreamliners and 737-800s support its strategy of establishing a fleet of young, high-quality, high-demand airplanes for its airline customers."
The 787 “Dreamliner” is a wide-body twin-engine aircraft with long range and basic carrying capacity for 210 to 330 passengers. Boeing has made it a core element of its future strategy in commercial aviation, with appeals to carriers and leasing companies based on the jet’s cost efficiency, long range, and carrying capacity. The OEM also claims the 787 will be its most fuel-efficient commercial jet, with a structure based on a large volume of composite materials helping to reduce fuel consumption by up to 20% versus similar-size jets. A more advanced aerodynamic design than previous jets, more-electric systems, and modern engines add to the 787’s appeal to airlines.
The 787-9 Dreamliner that ALC ordered is larger than the standard 787-8, and will carry 250-290 passengers on routes of 8,000 to 8,500 nautical miles. "The 787-9, with its increased size and range, will provide our customers the ability to serve more cities with the lowest possible cost per seat," according to ALC chairman and CEO Steven F. Udvar-Hazy.
ALCs contract placement raises the number of 787-9s on order to 270. Since it entered full production, the 787 Dreamliner family (787-8 and 787-9) has accumulated a total of 825 orders.
"Air Lease Corporation's order helps establish the 787-9 Dreamliner in the leasing market," said Bill Collins, vice president of Leasing Sales for Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "It also builds on the continued market success of this airplane."
