HONG
KONG - Cathay Pacific Airways, Hong Kong's
flag carrier, has placed its biggest-ever order
for new aircraft, the airline announced December 1.
The airline has made commitments for 16
wide-body Boeing 777-300ER aircraft with purchase rights for
20 more, Cathay Pacific said. It also made
commitments to acquire three Airbus A330-300s to
operate regional routes.
The 777-300ERs
will be acquired through a combination of 12
direct purchases from the Boeing Company, at a
reported cost of
US$2.64 billion, and four
operating leases from International Lease Finance
Corporation (ILFC).
The three new
A330-300s will also be acquired via operating
leases from ILFC. The 777-300ERs will be powered
by General Electric GE90-115B engines and the
Airbus A330-300s by the Rolls-Royce Trent 700. The
16 777-300ERs will be delivered between September
2007 and July 2010. All three Airbus A330-300s
will be delivered in 2008.
The 777-300ER
(also known as 773B) series is a long range
version of the 777-300, and is designed as a
replacement for the 747-400. This is a result of
Boeing's strategy to market the 747 series as
cargo freighters rather than passenger aircraft.
The 777-300ER contains many modifications,
including the GE90-115B engines, which are
currently the world's most powerful jet engine
with 115,300 foot-pounds (513 kilonewtons) of
thrust. Other features include raked wingtips, a
new main landing gear, and extra fuel tanks, as
well as strengthened fuselage, wings, empennage,
nose gear, engine struts and nacelles.
The
craft's range, with a 365 passenger three-class
configuration, is 7,880 nautical miles (14,594
kilometers). The 777-300ER program was launched by
Air France, though for political reasons, Japan
Airlines was advertised as the launch customer.
The first flight of the 777-300ER was February 24,
2003. Delivery of the first 777-300ER to Air
France occurred on April 29, 2004. The direct
Airbus equivalent is the A340-600.
Cathay
Pacific chief executive Philip Chen said: "These
aircraft orders mark an exciting and significant
milestone in the development of our airline,
demonstrating our board's confidence in the
long-term future of the airline and Hong Kong. The
addition of these new aircraft to the 100 we will
have by next year will make us a carrier of
significant size.
"More aircraft will
allow us to have more flights, new destinations
and greater hub connections. This rapid fleet
increase will enhance our strength as a carrier
and Hong Kong's position as a global hub and
gateway to the Chinese mainland. This is a
long-term commitment to the continued profitable
growth of the airline. It puts us [on a firm]
footing for future success."
Cathay
Pacific's fleet currently totals 95 aircraft. Its
long-haul fleet comprises 22 Boeing 747-400s, 15
Airbus A340-300s and three Airbus A340-600s. The
regional fleet comprises 16 Boeing 777-200/300s
and 26 Airbus A330-300s aircraft. The airline also
operates 13 Boeing 747 freighters. Later this
month, the airline will take delivery of the
world's first 747-400BCF (Boeing Converted
Freighter), converted from a Cathay Pacific
passenger 747-400 aircraft. The airline has firm
orders for six such 747-400BCFs with options for
another six.
One new 747-400F freighter,
one 777-300, three Airbus A330-300s, and three
refitted 747-400 passenger aircraft have entered
service with the airline this year. It has
outstanding orders for one Boeing 777-300, three
Airbus A330-300s, and one 747-400. Cathay
Pacific's fleet will total 100 aircraft by
September 2006, the airline's 60th anniversary.
