Spanish Join The Dreamliner Invasion

…after becoming the launch customer for the original A330-derived A350, Spanish operator Air Europa sensationally ordered the 787.

The airline was previously listed on Boeing’s site as an unidentified customer.

It has ordered eight 787-8’s with further purchase rights on eight more.

As of writing, the airlines original A350 order for ten airplanes is still regarded as active according to the data available on Airbus’ website spreadsheet.

All images courtesy of Boeing

Maria Jose Hidalgo, managing director said of the purchase that the “787 is the best solution that meets our requirements for a superior airplane that offers better efficiency, better environmental performance and excellent comfort for our passengers.“

The carrier is one of a number of EU-based airlines looking to make the most on the Open Skies agreement between the EU-bloc and the United States. In the meantime, Air Europa has earmarked its Dreamliners to fly to Central and Southern America as well as the Dominican Republic.

Bahrain based Gulf Air also firmed up its 787 order this past weekend too.

These deals come as another 787 customer, Royal Jordanian, firmed up a contract to lease 2 787’s from CIT Aerospace. It also aims to take on lease another 3 Dreamliners from Dubai based LCAL after already finalizing a deal for 2 further 787’s from ILFC.

With news of the second delay to service entry of the 787 still being digested, Scott Carson rightly notes that the airplane’s breakthrough technology has not eroded customer confidence.

While the company grapples with getting the first airplane ready for first flight, other European airlines are looking to exercise their options and purchase rights for yet more 787’s. Stay tuned for more on that soon.

For now, the Dreamliner seems to have started off 2008 pretty much where it ended 2007 - riding a wave belief and conviction in the revolutionary product.

Never before has the marketplace spoken so loudly to validate an airplane like this - can the 787 reach 1,000 firm orders before its maiden flight in later this year?

It’s certainly a possibility.

Records aside, the key issue for the 787 is now getting into the air for its first flight.

4 comments January 23rd, 2008