rkkwan

God, finally, CX placed firm order for 16 777-300ER, with options for 20 more. Delivery starting Sep 2007. They also ordered three more A333.

They need this for YYZ non-stop, and hopefully new service to ORD. [AA/CX is giving up this route big time to UA! 10 UA flights a week vs 0 for AA/CX. How ridiculous is that!] And the 773ER can make LAX->HKG year round.

Maybe they were waiting for the specs of the 748 and 346E, but they should have ordered this plane long time ago.

Also, no 772LR probably means no DFW.

mrwunrfl

The CX won't be delivered until Sept 2007. Meanwhile Air France got the first one:
http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/...r_051129g.html

rkkwan

CX is probably the most conservative airline in the world. They are one of the two most profitable (along with SQ), but in my opinion way too cautious.

They also betted wrong earlier when they decided to order a lot of 777s (non-ERs) for regional service, while using 343 and 346 for longhaul.

mrwunrfl

"Boeing and Cathay Pacific Airways Wednesday signed a definitive agreement for the purchase of 12 Boeing 777-300ER (Extended Range) jetliners and purchase rights for 20 more."

If I understand it correctly, that is an actual contract to buy 12 (at list prices it would be &2.85 billion). The options part of the deal is more like a "we are seriously thinking about it so you might not want to shut down your production line". ??

rkkwan

12 are purchased by CX outright. 4 others are purchased by a leasing company, to be leased to CX.

Options mean they have agreed to a price, and also have production "slots" reserved for the particular time point. But the airline can back out of it and not take the options when the time comes.