Virgin Atlantic Orders New Boeing Jetliners

Virgin Atlantic and aircraft maker Boeing signed an extensive partnership which includes the largest order yet by a European airline for Boeing’s new 787 Dreamliner. Virgin Atlantic is ordering 15 of the 787-9 Dreamliners -with options on ordering another eight 787-9s and purchase rights on a further 20 aircraft.

The 787-9 Dreamliner burns around 27 percent less fuel per passenger than the A340-300, the aircraft it will replace in the Virgin Atlantic fleet. The order will see Virgin Atlantic take delivery of its new planes from 2011 and could be worth up to $8 billion.

The Boeing 787-9, which can carry up to 290 passengers depending on the bed or seat layout, brings a step change in aviation and will substantially reduce the industry’s impact on the environment. Its innovative design, with over half of the aircraft built from composite materials, helps to reduce fuel burn and carbon emissions significantly.

Boeing and Virgin Atlantic are also working in partnership to cut aircraft emissions on the ground, as well as in the air. Boeing supports the trials of towing Virgin Atlantic planes to so-called “starting-grids”, enabling aircraft to reduce their fuel burn and carbon emissions by up to 50 percent on the ground, and reduce noise emissions for local communities.

The new Virgin Atlantic 787 Dreamliners will enable the airline to continue its global expansion, possibly flying to cities including Rio de Janeiro, Seattle, Vancouver, Bangkok and Melbourne.