Boeing and Gulf Air have announced an agreement for the purchase of additional Boeing 787 Dreamliners.
The airline has signed a preliminary agreement for 12 Boeing 787s, with options for a further six. Once finalised, this order will bring the carrier’s firm order book to 14 widebody jets. Whilst types have not been disclosed or finalised, Gulf Air operates only the Boeing 787-9.
The 787 Dreamliner already serves as the backbone of Gulf Air’s long-haul operations, connecting over 50 destinations. With 10 787 airplanes in service, the airline is positioned to grow its network, serving new and existing markets across Asia, Europe and the U.S.
In Quotes
Khalid Taqi, chairman of Gulf Air Group, said:
“This agreement marks a transformative step in Gulf Air’s strategic growth journey as we expand our global footprint and modernize our fleet with one of the industry’s most advanced and efficient aircraft,”
“The Boeing 787 Dreamliner has proven to be an exceptional aircraft for our long-haul operations, and this new order reflects our confidence in its performance, passenger appeal and contribution to our sustainability goals. We are proud to deepen our partnership with Boeing and reaffirm our commitment to positioning Bahrain as a key global aviation hub.”
Stephanie Pope, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, added
“We are excited to build on our more than 60-year partnership with Gulf Air as we deliver the market-leading 787 Dreamliner to help the airline serve more passengers and connect more destinations,”
“This investment in the 787 Dreamliner demonstrates Gulf Air’s commitment to new technology and sustainable development, reinforcing Bahrain’s position in the aviation sector.“
Future Growth
Like any order, until it’s firm and hits the Boeing Orders and Deliveries page, it’s just a bit of paper that forms the basis of a negotiation, with a lavish backdrop, given the senior heads of state that are observing the ceremony.
We’ll have to wait to see what the final numbers are, and how they hammer out the deal, as the timeline to delivery will be important.
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