Qantas unveils plan to acquire 8 Boeing 787-9s

Qantas has unveiled plans to acquire eight Boeing 787-9s which will gradually replace five of its older Boeing 747s on Qantas International routes and open up a range of potential new city pairs.

Qantas said that four B787-9s will arrive in financial year 2018 and four will arrive in financial year 2019. This will leave the Qantas Group with its six youngest reconfigured B747s.

Qantas will retain 15 further options and 30 purchase rights for additional B787s, with significant flexibility over the timing of delivery should they be exercised.

“This milestone acquisition marks the scale of our turnaround and looks ahead to a new era for our iconic international airline. We’re halfway through the biggest and fastest transformation in our history. Qantas is rapidly growing fitter, stronger, and smarter. These aircraft are a fitting emblem of that evolution – they show that we are revitalised and here for the long haul,” said Chief Executive, Alan Joyce. “The key reason we chose this particular aircraft is its incredible efficiency. Its new technology will reduce fuel burn, cut heavy maintenance requirements and open up new destinations around the globe. Because the 787 is smaller than the jumbos it will gradually replace, it gives us the flexibility of having more aircraft without significantly changing our overall capacity.”

Dinesh Keskar, Senior Vice President, Asia Pacific and India Sales, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said, “We are honoured that Qantas has selected the 787 for its fleet renewal plan and to build upon on our long-standing relationship. The Dreamliner is the perfect fit for Qantas’ new long-haul fleet, providing them with superior economics, flexibility and capability.”