ANA splits huge plane order with Boeing, Airbus

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http://www.thenewstribune.com/2014/03/28/3120844/ana-splits-huge-plane-order-with.html?sp=/99/261/

ANA splits huge plane order with Boeing, Airbus
By JOHN GILLIE
Staff writer
March 28, 2014

Despite having to wait more than three years beyond the original delivery date for its first Boeing Dreamliner and having seen its fleet of 787s grounded for three months because of battery issues, All Nippon Airways on Thursday signed an order for 14 more of the jets.

The Dreamliner order was part of a $13 billion ANA order for a total of 40 wide-bodied aircraft from Boeing.

ANA also ordered 20 of Boeing's new 777-9X aircraft and six 777-300ERs. The first 777-X aircraft are due to be delivered to early customers at the end of the decade. The 777-300ERs are the present generation aircraft now in production. ANA's Dreamliner order was for the stretched -9 version of the plane. ANA's launch order was for the smaller 787-8 base model. The -9 model will carry about 35 more passengers than the -8. In addition to the big Boeing order, ANA also announced an order with Boeing rival Airbus Thursday. That $3.6 billion order was for seven Airbus A320 Neo and 23 A321 Neo aircraft.

The A320 Neo series aircraft are updated versions of Airbus' popular A320 single aisle planes. The plane features new fuel-efficient engines. Boeing's 737 Max aircraft are rivals to the A320 Neo series. The A321 Neo is a slightly larger version of the base A320 Neo.