Boeing won more than $6 billion in orders for its new carbon-composite 787 Dreamliner jet from North American and European airlines, lifting Boeing's shares on Tuesday.
Since its market launch in April 2004, Boeing said the light-weight, fuel-efficient 787 has racked up 544 orders worth more than $75 billion, making it the most successful launch in the company's history.
Orders from Virgin Atlantic and Air Canada, announced on Tuesday, mark an important victory in Europe and North America over European rival Airbus in the lucrative market for wide-body planes.
“With more than a year to go before we introduce the (Dreamliner), we’ve had more orders than we’ve had for any airplane in our history,” said W. James McNerney, Jr., chief executive officer of Boeing, in an interview on CNBC. “We’re very proud of that and the impact the technology is having on airlines and their desire to work with us. The Virgin order is huge.”
In the past few years, Asian and Middle Eastern airlines have taken the lead in ordering 787s.