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Emirates, ILFC in talks on mid-size jet order
Emirates, the Dubai-based international carrier, and International Lease Finance Corp (ILFC) are in close discussions for a possible order for up to 20 mid-size passenger jets including the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Airbus A350, said an official.
- By Saifur Rahman, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:00 November 22, 2005
Emirates, the Dubai-based international carrier, and International Lease Finance Corp (ILFC) are in close discussions for a possible order for up to 20 mid-size passenger jets including the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Airbus A350, said an official.
 Sankha Kar/Gulf News From left: John Feren, Vice-President of Leasing and Asset Management for Boeing Commercial Airplanes; Alex A Khatibi, Senior Vice-President ILFC; John Plueger, President and COO of International Lease Finance Corporation, and Scott Carson, Vice-President of Sales for Boeing Commercial Airplanes, at a press conference. |
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"We are in discussions with Emirates, one of our largest customers in the region, for a possible fresh order on mid-size passenger jets, with choices including both the Dreamliner and the A350s," said John Plueger, ILFC's president and COO.
"This could materialise in a matter of months.
ILFC financed 20 Emirates B777s and five Airbus jets. However, the airline on Sunday signed a firm order for 42 B777s including eight freighters, a deal valued at $9.7 billion at list prices.
At the press conference on Sunday, Emirates Group chairman Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum said: "We are looking at both the B787 and A350. We will make an announcement when we make a decision."
He did not indicate a time frame for the announcement.
Sources said Emirates' interest in the Dreamliner has returned and the airline apparently is looking at the B787.
However, Emirates has always maintained that its interested only in the stretched version of the model that Boeing is not going to roll out before 2010.
Emirates' decision on the Dreamliner, analysts say will largely depend on how soon Boeing would roll out the stretch version.
Most of Emirates' recent orders have been on the largers twin-isle aircraft, mostly with capacity exceeding 300 passengers.
The B787-8 version will carry 253 passengers and use 20 per cent less fuel than today's comparable airplanes while providing airlines with up to 45 percent more cargo revenue capacity.
The 787 family will carry passengers on routes up to 8,800 nautical miles. It allows airlines to offer more of what passengers want: affordable, comfortable, non-stop service to more destinations.
The Dreamliner's first flight is scheduled for 2007, with certification, delivery and entry into service in 2008. Emirates said, it falls short of the high capacity needed for its future traffic needs.
Both Airbus and Boeing earlier launched a strong campaign for their products to secure orders from Boeing. The airline, however, opted for B777s that fits its future requirements.
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