Warsaw (Puls Biznesu) – PLL LOT, the Polish flag carrier, decided yesterday to buy seve B787-8 dreamliners to replace its long-haul aircraft – boeing B767. The airline has an option to buy 2 other B787 and five others in the future. “LOT will be the first airline in Europe to receive 787 aircraft”, Marlin Dailey, deputy CEO to Boeing Commercial Airplanes commented. “The replacement will be key while opening new routes to Asia”, Marek Grabarek, LOT CEO added.
Airbus also competed for this order. The new planes will be delivered in the middle of 2008 while buy options may be realised in the years 2011-19. “The value of the contract, according to catalogue prices, without buy options, amounts to USD 910m”, Boeing wrote in its announcement. In reality LOT may pay about USD 500m (EUR 402.4m). It will get the launch customer status. “Boeing offered to equip the old machines until new ones are delivered”, Krzysztof Zbroja, the head of the trade union of LOT’s pilots said. Today, LOT operates with 5 own boeing 767 and has one more in operational leasing.Pilots and analysts approve of the choice. “This is good choice. The final decision will be made in October when the company provides financing from banks”, Krzysztof Zbroja expected. “Continuing co-operation with one deliverer has many advantages: part of spare elements remain the same, technical data are similar, while pilots’ training goes faster. I expect protests from EU, however”, Michal Morawski, the former LOT representative to IATA said. LOT is going to totally change its fleet. Short-haul planes are to be changed, too. Airbus and Boeing are again competing for this delivery. Up to 20 aircraft may be bought in this transaction.22 airlines have ordered 263 dreamliners so far. Three of those airlines are Star Alliance members: LOT, ANA and Air New Zealand. Boeing 787 may fly from 6,500-16,000 km. The first flight will be held in 2007.(USD 1 = EUR 0.804)
Poland/Enterprises/Airlines