Boeing Wins Order From Singapore Airlines

Boeing Co. won an order worth as much as $4 billion to supply Singapore Airlines Ltd. with 777-200 jets to replace its aging Airbus A310s. The contract is a blow to Airbus Industrie, which had tried unsuccessfully to design a successor to the A-310. Singapore placed a firm order for 10 of the Seattle maker’s 777s, taking options for 10 more. Including earlier 777 orders from 1995 and 1999, the airline has placed a total of 50 firm orders and taken 31 options on the 777, Boeing’s newest model. The order is a coup for Boeing because Singapore, as Asia’s most profitable carrier, is a trendsetter for the region. Airbus, on the other hand, was handed a victory by Singapore last year when it ordered as many as 25 of its superjumbos, the A-380. The new Boeing planes will be delivered between 2003 and 2009. Rolls-Royce will supply the engines. Singapore Airlines Chief Executive Cheong Choong Kong said that the latest 777 order would let it “take advantage of economies of scale in terms of spares and maintenance costs.” Boeing shares closed off 13 cents at $60.59 on the New York Stock Exchange.