Boeing Commercial Airplanes reported a new contract for eight 787-8 Dreamliners from Azerbaijan Airlines, an order that could be worth up to $1.9 billion based on list prices for that long-range aircraft. The new contract doubles the number of aircraft detailed in a memo of understanding that Boeing and the airline executed last July.
Neither the supplier nor the customer reported the value of the order.
The 787 787 Dreamliner is a twin-engine, wide-body aircraft developed by Boeing to achieve greater fuel-efficiency for long-range service. Since the 787’s introduction in 2011, Boeing has logged orders for 1,629 Dreamliners, and as of December 2022 it had an order backlog of 575 aircraft.
Although the Federal Aviation Administration has cleared Boeing to continue 787 deliveries following a recent discovery of structural fixtures on some fuselages, the OEM continues to have some delivery delays due to manufacturing delays with the suspect parts.
Azerbaijan Airlines, the national airline for the Central Asian republic, already operates two 787-8s, delivered in 2014. Now, it aims to modernize its fleet and expand its route network, aiming to boost tourism.
"The signing of a contract with Boeing for the purchase of modern wide-body Boeing 787 Dreamliners is an important step in modernizing the fleet and increasing the level of AZAL air transportation," according to Jahangir Asgarov, president of the airline.
