Boeing announced Thursday Australia-based Qantas has ordered 31 more 737-800 commercial jetliners, in a deal worth roughly $2.3 billion, Reuters reported.
The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) officials told the Puget Sound Business Journal Friday that Qantas' order is the largest order for its 737 class single-aisle plane.
Two years ago, in December 2005 Qantas agreed to buy up to 115 next-generation 787 Dreamliners worth up to $6.1 billion, the Puget Sound Business Journal reported Friday.
Boeing's shares rose 24 cents to $86.86 in Thursday afternoon trading.
Record year
The Qantas contract announced Thursday brings Boeing's 2007 net order total to 1,213 planes, its highest full-year order total ever, and about 16% better than 2006's total of 1,044 planes, Reuters reported Friday.
"The Qantas order is a solid win for Boeing, a real feather in their cap because from a market standpoint the Asia region is under pressure from Airbus, given Asia's generally longer flight routes," analyst C. Leonard Bauer told Bloggingstocks Thursday. "With this contract Boeing is making a statement that it has maintained its Asia focus."
United States-based Boeing and European Union-based Airbus are engaged in a global battle not only for market share of commercial airline miles flown, but also regarding which air travel model will best meet the needs of air travelers in the initial decades of the 21st century.
Airbus argues that superjumbo jet air travel, which features lower ticket prices, larger seating capacities, and longer ranges, will be the flight most preferred by airlines and air travelers.
Conversely, Boeing argues that point-to-point air travel will be the era's defining air travel flight, and that customers, frustrated and fatigued by the existing hub-and-spoke system, will flock to airlines that offer fast, non-stop, point-to-point flights.
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