British Airways picks Boeing 777 ahead of Airbus A330

British Airways picks Boeing 777 ahead of Airbus A330 British Airways has selected Boeing’s 777-200 ER aircraft ahead of Airbus' A330s to expand its long-haul fleet.
   The airline has ordered four of the 777s at $201 million each with delivery expected in early 2009. British Airways has also taken out options on four more of the planes for delivery in 2010. Negotiations continue with GE and Rolls Royce about which engines would be used on the new aircraft, the airline said.
   'These new aircraft will enable us to grow our long-haul business after we move to Terminal 5' in Heathrow Airport, said Robert Boyle, British Airways' commercial director.
   'It was a close decision between the Boeing 777s and Airbus A330s. However, the ease of assimilating up to eight aircraft into our existing 777 fleet, rather than having a small number of A330s, swung the balance in Boeing's favor,' Boyle said.
   The airline is considering other long-haul replacements for the decade ahead, and said that it is looking at Airbus' A330, A350 and A380 models, as well as Boeing's 787, 777 and 747-8 aircraft.
   'We are confident of a similarly competitive approach from both manufacturers as we move towards our major long-haul fleet renewal and expansion order later this year,' Boyle said.