Virgin Atlantic to order 15 Boeing Dreamliner jets

0 Comments | AFP, April, 2007

CHICAGO (AFP) — The Boeing Company announced Tuesday that Virgin Atlantic has ordered 15 of its future 787 Dreamliners, the biggest order for the plane so far from a European carrier.

The order, worth some 2.8 billion dollars at list price, had been listed on Boeing's records as coming from an unidentified customer.

Virgin also took options for an additional eight 787s and purchase rights for an additional 20 of the aircraft, for a total bill of up to eight billion dollars.

The airline hopes to take delivery starting in 2011 and will capitalize on the plane's longer range by offering direct flights from Britain to Perth, Australia and Hawaii.

The British carrier also plans new routes for the planes, to Bangkok, Melbourne, Rio de Janeiro, Seattle,...