Qantas pays $7.6b for Perth-London capable Boeing 787s

Qantas has become the largest purchaser of the world's fastest selling twin-aisle aircraft, ordering 65 240-290 seat Boeing 787s worth $7.6 billion.
The aircraft is capable of flying between Perth and London non-stop with a full passenger payload.
Perth will be a major hub for the 787s which will be used by Qantas to Singapore, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne replacing the A330s and Boeing 767s.
The order comes after firming up options for 20 of the aircraft, which were part of a commitment announced on December 14 last year. Qantas also has purchase rights for 50 787s.

The signing ceremony was a highlight of celebrations to mark the airline's Sydney-San Francisco inaugural flight, and attended by Alan Mulally, President of Boeing Commercial Airplanes and Peter Gregg, Chief Financial Officer of Qantas. At the signing, the Hon. Andrew Peacock, AC, President of Boeing Australia said that he expected the entire 787 program to be worth $4 billion to Australian industry.
The first four 787s will be delivered to Jetstar International in July 2008 with another 28 to follow for Jetstar and Qantas by 2011. Qantas will get its first 787 in mid 2009.
Boeing has so far booked 386 orders from 28 airlines around the world. Building the 787 is the world's largest industrial program and is being undertaken at 132 sites around the world including Australia.