Cathay order more 777s

Cathay orders first 777-200Fs, adds four 777-300ERs

Cathay Pacific has ordered four Boeing 777-300ER passenger aircraft and eight Boeing 777-200 freighters as part of the airline’s ongoing fleet renewal plan.

10th August 2011

The 12 aircraft, which will have a list price of Hong Kong dollar (HK$) 25.6 billion ($3.28 billion), are expected to be delivered between 2013 and 2016.

All the aircraft will be powered by General Electric GE90 engines.

“The 777-300ER is a superb aircraft that has already given a significant boost to our long-haul passenger operations, while the 777-200F will improve our freighter operations by delivering improved payload range capability at competitive operating costs,” Cathay’s CEO, John Slosar, said in a statement.

Cathay currently operates 22 777-300ERs on its long-haul routes.

With this order, the airline will have 28 of the type on its order books for delivery up to 2015.

The aircraft will replace 21 Boeing 747-400s and 13 Airbus A340-300s that the carrier is planning to retire by 2020.

The Oneworld alliance member’s first 777-200Fs will replace some of the 11 747-400BCFs in its cargo arm’s fleet.

The 777-200Fs offer 15% fuel savings per payload on the 747-400F and 24% on the 747-400BCF, Cathay said.

Cathay has 21 widebodies in its freighter fleet. Two of its 747-400BCFs will be sold to its cargo joint venture with Air China, while one or two more will be dry-leased to its all-cargo subsidiary Air Hong Kong.

Cathay will have 35 freighters by 2016, the airline said.

With this order, Cathay will have 97 aircraft on order for delivery up to 2019. These include 19 Airbus A330s, 32 Airbus A350-900s, and 10 747-8Fs.

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2011/08/10/360553/cathay-orders-first-777-200fs-adds-four-777-300ers.html

So, this will replace half their B744 fleet (currently numbering 42) and will see all the A340s removed from the fleet. No surprise there.

The B77F should look very nice in the Cathay colourscheme.

It remains to be seen if Boeing can tweak the B777-300ER enough, or will the A350-1000 make it into the fleet.