Boeing's (30 787) Mystery Customer

smokejumper · Post by **smokejumper** » 18 Apr 2007, 17:53

Todays Seattle Post has the attached article regzrdng the mystery customer for 30 787's. Supposedly, its' not a US customer, but a non-US new buyer. Let's start the rumors?

See:

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/ ... ource=mypi

TexasGuy · Post by **TexasGuy** » 18 Apr 2007, 18:13

RC20 started talking about it here

a-boeing-sales-presentation-of-the-787-t21191.html

smokejumper · Post by **smokejumper** » 18 Apr 2007, 18:15

Sorry - I missed RC-20's post.

tolipanebas · Post by **tolipanebas** » 18 Apr 2007, 18:30

That's an easy one: IB.

Boeing is said to have been knocking on their door day and night with a 'give away' offer just to break into the market on the Iberian peninsula again and IB does have a large A340-300 fleet which is renewable as from the end of this decade....

TexasGuy · Post by **TexasGuy** » 18 Apr 2007, 18:45

I will say British Airways or maybe Lufthansas from the EU.
From Asia, Perhaps its an Indian or Mid Eastern Carrier.

Or in a completely ideal world, its Biman. They sure could use new and more efficient metal

airazurxtror · Post by **airazurxtror** » 18 Apr 2007, 18:59

Ryanair ?

spotter1102 · Post by **spotter1102** » 18 Apr 2007, 19:11

airazurxtror wrote:Ryanair ?

Oh yes it could be possible !

TexasGuy · Post by **TexasGuy** » 18 Apr 2007, 19:16

Or, maybe Aeroflot has had a change of heart and ordered some B787s?

ryanCX · Post by **ryanCX** » 19 Apr 2007, 00:30

hmm.. this is interesting!

Could be BA

David747 · Post by **David747** » 19 Apr 2007, 09:02

its not Aeroflot that is for sure. If I had to guess, I would say its Lufthansa. Either way, later on today Boeing will update its order books, so lets see what happens

HAWK21M · Post by **HAWK21M** » 19 Apr 2007, 09:27

Some Indian operator apart from AI & 9W

regds
MEL

CX · Post by CX » 19 Apr 2007, 10:39

David747 wrote:its not Aeroflot that is for sure. If I had to guess, I would say its Lufthansa. Either way, later on today Boeing will update its order books, so lets see what happens

Nah I don't think Lufthansa's order is so soon...

David747 · Post by **David747** » 19 Apr 2007, 12:18

How about this, could this order be from British Airways? They are still looking for airplanes to replace their long haul fleet, and their fleet of 767-300's. The 787-8 would be a logical replacement for BA's 767's and be put on BA's long haul routes to North America or the Caribbean. Still, I hope that Lufthansa is the mystery 787 customer.

smokejumper · Post by **smokejumper** » 19 Apr 2007, 13:19

I guess everyone is as mystified as I am trying to guess the mystery customer. I can develop rational arguments as to why the mystery customer is (take your pick) British Airways, Lufthansa, Emerates, Signapore, etc. but all arguments are equally weighted. I just dont know.

Several airlines have publically stated that they need to know the details of the A350 (not just PR statements and concepts); maybe someone just got tired of waiting and decided to place an order (one with guaranteed performance numbers).

Since the B787 was announced, there have been only 3 orders of 30+ 787's. This new order is certainly a major order and there are only a few non-committed, non-American carriers that can place such an order.

We'll just have to wait until an anouncement or a leak occurs.

David747 · Post by **David747** » 19 Apr 2007, 15:31

If Emirates is the mystery customer, I would :censored: myself, given the comments by Tim Clark on the A350. Yet, it would be nice to see Emirates be a 787 customer. Either way, my money is on Lufthansa. The way I see it, they are still long for planes to replace their long haul fleet.

smokejumper · Post by **smokejumper** » 19 Apr 2007, 15:38

David747 wrote:If Emirates is the mystery customer, I would :censored: myself, given the comments by Tim Clark on the A350. Yet, it would be nice to see Emirates be a 787 customer. Either way, my money is on Lufthansa. The way I see it, they are still long for planes to replace their long haul fleet.

You may have something here. The only reasons I can envision for not announcing are (1) financing is still being negotiated and, (2) for political reasons, the airline needs time to discuss a possibly politically difficult decision to the nation's politicians. Such would be the case if Lufthansa or British Air picked the 787 over the hometown favorite and job creator, Airbus.

beaucaire · Post by **beaucaire** » 19 Apr 2007, 15:59

Lufthansa have openly told they are not the UFO customer..
It does currently not fit into the business-model of LH -they are focussed on larger capacity aircraft from their Interconti-hubs,so the 787 would be too small.
That might change in the future,but they have a new range of A330's,A340 to do the thinner routes.

Andries · Post by **Andries** » 19 Apr 2007, 18:25

Word is that it would be Delta Air Lines. The order would be announced when the officially emerge from bankrupty. But then again, no official confirmation.
30 firm + 100 options (767 replacement + expansion).

Source : A.net forum (sais enough about it being a rumor)

Greetz,

Andries

TexasGuy · Post by **TexasGuy** » 19 Apr 2007, 19:27

According to the "source" of this report, it wont be a major US carrier.

Maybe its the US gov. Bush may have decided to replace all the pres./gov. fleet of 757s and 737s with new B787s

smokejumper · Post by **smokejumper** » 19 Apr 2007, 22:48

TexasGuy wrote:According to the "source" of this report, it wont be a major US carrier.

Maybe its the US gov. Bush may have decided to replace all the pres./gov. fleet of 757s and 737s with new B787s

There has not been an RFP (Request for Proposals) nor a line item in the budget for the purchase of new commercial aircraft to replace the existing fleet. Consequently, no US Government purchase.