Cathay Pacific signs for 21 Boeing 777-9Xs
Almasalla Arab Travel Portal News – Cathay Pacific Airways has become the first Asian airline to order the Boeing 777X, signing a deal for 21of the -9X variants at a list price of HK$58 billion ($7.5 billion), the Hong Kong-based oneworld carrier said Friday.
Deliveries will take place between 2021 and 2024.
“We think [the 777-9X] will be an ideal fit for long-haul destinations in North America and Europe, in particular those routes where we carry high volumes of passengers and cargo each day. Cathay Pacific is committed to modernizing its fleet to provide a superior experience to passengers,” Cathay CEO John Slosar said in a statement.
The aircraft will be powered by GE Aviation GE9X engines, the sole-source engine for the 777X. Cathay also signed a 15-year OnPoint maintenance agreement for the engines, GE said.
Cathay joins Emirates, Etihad Airways, Lufthansa and Qatar Airways as early customers for the 777X. The other airlines announced their orders at the Dubai Air Show in November, where the 777X program was launched.
As part of its fleet modernization, Cathay’s recent orders have included Boeing 747-8 freighters and Airbus A330s and A350s.
Source : ATW
