Air Transport

British Airways has ordered six Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, and placed options on another four of the type, as an interim measure to cope with delays to the Boeing 787 programme.

Delivery of the twin-jets will begin in 2010. It marks the first time the carrier has opted for the larger 777 variant; its current 777 fleet, totalling 42 aircraft, comprises a mix of -200 and -200ER versions.

Sources had already confirmed to ATI, Flightglobal's sister premium news source, that the Oneworld carrier was in discussions to take the type. BA says today that the aircraft will give the airline "greater flexibility" in its long-haul fleet following delays to BA’s 787 deliveries.

BA confirmed the agreement today as it blamed fuel costs for an 87% fall in first-quarter operating profits to £35 million ($69 million). Fuel costs were up 49% to £706 million in the three-month period to 30 June.

"We are in the worst trading environment the industry has ever faced," says chief executive Willie Walsh. He points out that fuel expenditure this year will be more than £3 billion, despite a successful fuel-hedging scheme.

Walsh says the new 777-300ERs will be 23% more fuel-efficient than the carrier’s 747-400s.

The General Electric GE90 is the exclusive powerplant on the 777-300ER. BA’s current 777 fleet is powered by a mix of GE90s and Rolls-Royce Trent 800s, with GE90s fitted to more than half the 42 aircraft.

BA has 24 787s on order, 16 of which are the 787-9 variant while the other eight are 787-8s.