Boeing completes 787 order from Vietnam Airlines, leasing company
SEATTLE - Boeing Co. has finalized an order for 12 of its new midsize, long-range 787 Dreamliners from Vietnam Airlines and Vietnam Aircraft Leasing Co., the jet maker said Wednesday.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Chicago-based Boeing, which assembles its commercial planes in the Seattle area, said the 787-8s were worth about $2 billion (€1.36 billion) at list prices, though customers typically negotiate substantial discounts.
Vietnam Airlines will buy four of the planes, and VALC will purchase the other eight, then lease them to Vietnam Airlines.
Boeing said this is the first order ever placed by VALC, a partnership formed last year by Vietnam Airlines, the Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam, Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group, Vietnam Shipbuilding Industry Group and Phong Phu Corp.
The latest orders, which will be added to the 2007 order total Boeing is set to release Thursday, push the 787 order tally to 802.
The 787 will be the first large commercial jetliner made mostly of carbon-fiber composites rather than aluminum. Boeing is scheduled to begin test flights within the next few months and deliver the first plane by the end of the year, after early supply chain and production problems forced a six-month delay.
Vietnam Airlines, which ordered four 787s about three years ago, is scheduled to take delivery of its first Dreamliner in 2009.
Boeing shares closed down $1.62, or 2.3 percent, to $68.14 on Monday, then rose 37 cents in after-hours trading.
The Associated Press - January 3, 2007.
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