Boeing adds five more to the 787 Dreamliner total

Aerospace major, Boeing Company, has announced that two existing customers for its upcoming 787 Dreamliner have confirmed, or added, to orders already made. Air New Zealand, the second airline to place an order for the 787, has finalized an order first announced in December for four additional 787-9s, while Poland's LOT airline has added another one to its existing order for seven Dreamliners.

With Monday's announcement, Air New Zealand has by now ordered a total of eight 787-9s. Deliveries of these four airplanes, said Boeing, will take place from 2011 through 2013.

"These new aircraft are important to Air New Zealand's growth plans over the next decade," said Rob Fyfe, CEO of Air New Zealand. "Their long-haul capabilities will reach to a variety of destinations in Africa, India, the Americas and Asia, bringing some exciting prospects that we can pursue. Additionally the 787 has an industry-leading emissions profile which furthers Air New Zealand's environmental initiatives."

With LOT Airlines placing orders for an additional aircraft, the total number of Dreamliners on order from that airline goes up to eight. LOT had placed an order for seven 787s in 2005, with delivery positions beginning in 2008.

"We are delighted with the steady progress we're witnessing on the 787 Program and are eager to see the first 787 this year," said Marek Mazur, chief executive officer of LOT Polish Airlines. "Furthermore, we are making excellent progress in preparing for the arrival of the first 787 in our fleet in 2008. We take great pride in being the first European carrier to operate the world's newest, most advanced airplane."

Boeing has said that it now has 468 orders, and commitments, from 37 customers for the 787 ever since its launch in April 2004.