Cathay Orders 777-300ER (Merged)

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Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 1,342

Airbus just can't compete now with the 777-300ER and 777-200ER, the airlines are claiming they are far more fuel efficient, hence why Airbus are updating their A340-600 to compete better (but thats naother story, not sure why nobody has mentioned it on here yet). Anyway...

Cathay orders 12 777-300ERs
Brendan Sobie, Singapore (01Dec05, 09:23 GMT, 305 words)

Cathay Pacific Airways has placed an order for 12 Boeing 777-300ERs and also has agreed to lease three A330-300s and four 777-300ERs from International Lease Finance (ILFC).

The Oneworld carrier says in a statement today it has agreed to acquire directly from Boeing 12 777-300ERs and lease four 777-300ERs from ILFC. Its first 777-300ER will be delivered in September 2007.

The selection of the 777-300ER over the A340-600 concludes an intense competition at the Hong Kong-based carrier which is expected to result in several follow-on orders.

Cathay now operates three A340-600s on ultra long-haul routes but these aircraft are all on short-term lease. It also already has a fleet of 16 777-200/300s which are used for flights within Asia but until today Cathay had not placed any orders for the higher gross weight and longer-range 777-300ER.

Cathay also has taken options on 20 additional 777-300ERs. The 12 on firm order and four aircraft to be leased from ILFC will all be delivered by mid 2010.

The General Electric GE90 is the only engine available on the 777-300ER.

Cathay says it also has agreed to lease three Rolls Royce Trent 700-powered A330-300s from ILFC for delivery in 2008.

“These aircraft orders mark an exciting and significant milestone in the development of our airline, demonstrating our board’s confidence of the airline and Hong Kong,” says CEO Philip Chen. “The addition of these new aircraft to the 100 we will have by next year will make us a carrier of significant size.”

Cathay says its 777-300ER order is “its biggest ever”. Boeing confirms the order in a separate statement but does not provide a value.

Cathay currently operates 95 aircraft, including 22 747-400s, 13 747Fs, 16 777-200/300s, 26 A330-300s, 15 A340-300s and three A340-600s. It already has outstanding orders for one additional 777-300, three A330-300s and one 747-400.

Source: Air Transport Intelligence news

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Member for

18 years 11 months

Posts: 108

Congrats to Cathay Pacific... but this is also a testament to the A330, which has proven to be a tremendously succesful Airbus program. :cool:

Member for

20 years 11 months

Posts: 12,842

What happened to the good old days when airlines were usually loyal to one manufacturer, mixed fleets seem to be the go with most airlines these days

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 854

I think it's great news, the 777 is a fantastic aircraft. It is a pilots dream from a flying point to the crew rest facilities.

Cathay will look at replacing the A340 over the coming years with the 787 or the A350 and maybe looking at the 747-8 or the A380 to replace the 744 which I feel will be converted into freighters.

Changing time ahead from Cathay during this time of great expansion.

Member for

20 years 5 months

Posts: 10,625

Hah! I was right.

A few folks on another forum shot me down for suggesting CX would go Boeing.
I think this order clearly shows that ETOPS is no longer a major part of a fleet order decision.

Also, its good to see the A330 getting in on the deal too. Great aircraft with enviable economics for its class.