Gulf Air places four billion dollar order with Boeing ATTENTION - ADDS background ///
"Gulf Air has signed today (Saturday) with Boeing a firm order for 16 Boeing 787 aircraft and taken the right to purchase eight more of the same aircraft," Adnan Malek, acting head of corporate communication at Gulf Air said.
The value of the firm order for the new long-haul jets at list price is around four billion dollars, while the total amount would go up to six billion dollars if options are firmed up in the future, he added.
The struggling carrier had announced during the Dubai air show that it was planning to renew its entire fleet looking to order up to 35 planes.
Gulf Air's newly appointed chief executive Bjorn Naf said during the show that the company was holding intensive talks with Boeing and its European rival Airbus, but he did not rule out leasing some aircraft.
The cash-strapped airline aims to build up a fleet of 45 to 50 aircraft by 2013, compared to 25 aging planes