Avianca invests in ten 787 Dreamliners
Columbia's flag carrier Avianca Airlines has ordered ten next-generation Boeing 787 Dreamliner jets worth approximately $1.5 billion.
The Barranquilla-based operator, which flies to Los Angeles, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and New York, is the first South American carrier to order the fuel-efficient aircraft. It has also acquired purchase rights for an additional ten.
Due to enter service next year, the lightweight Dreamliner is constructed from composite materials and has capacity for up to 330 passengers. Boeing is expected to unveil the finished article in July this year.
The Chicago-based aircraft manufacturer has also confirmed that the leasing firm LCAL - the first company to purchase the 787 - has exercised its option for an additional Dreamliner, bringing its total order to 15.
"The technological benefits that the 787 brings will set the new standard in operator and passenger preference for decades to come, while taking a significant step to address the environmental issue," said Steve Clarke, President of LCAL.
Boeing reports that 39 airlines have already ordered 491 of the jets, worth more than $75 billion at list price.
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