Cathay to buy 36 planes

Cathay to buy 36 planes    Cathay Pacific Airways said Tuesday it intends to buy 30 A350-900 planes from Airbus and plans to use existing purchase rights to acquire another six B777-300ER aircraft from Boeing.
   The total value of the intended aircraft purchases at list price is about HK$75 billion (about $9.7 billion). 'This is a sum in addition to the significant investment Cathay Pacific will make between now and 2013 that includes aircraft already on firm order, the new cargo terminal at Hong Kong International Airport and enhanced products in the cabin and on the ground,' the airline said.
   According to Cathay, the new A350 XWB (Extra Wide Body) will form the backbone of its future mid-size widebody fleet, with the 30 new acquisitions being delivered from 2016 to 2019.
   Cathay said the planned order for six more B777-300ERs would add to its fleet of 30 B777s it already has on firm order. Eighteen B777-300ERs have already been delivered and are in operation with the remaining 12 arriving by 2013.
   The Hong Kong-based airline said it will make the B777-300ER the 'backbone of its ultra-long-haul and long-haul fleet, chiefly serving destinations in North America and Europe with greatly improved operating economics compared to the older aircraft in its fleet.'
   Cathay operates a fleet of 128 widebody aircraft including 25 freighters.