Virgin Atlantic to buy 24 Boeing 787 Dreamliners...making Boeings 787 the most successful launch ever

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Virgin Atlantic Airways (VA.UL: Quote, Profile, Research) has agreed to buy 24 Boeing (BA.N: Quote, Profile, Research) 787 Dreamliners, the Wall Street Journal reported on its Web site on Tuesday.



The deal, worth $3.6 billion (1.8 billion pounds) at list prices, is expected to be announced later Tuesday, the Journal said, citing unnamed sources.

The orders were previously booked on Boeing's Web site but the buyer had not been identified, the Journal said.

Virgin's Richard Branson and Boeing Chief Executive W. James McNerney are also expected to unveil a partnership to begin testing biofuel in a Virgin-owned Boeing 747 next year, the paper said.

A Boeing representative declined to comment. A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson could not immediately be reached for comment.


The 787 is well over the 500 aircraft sold mark and the airplane has not even been built yet. it took just 36 months to reach 500 aircraft sold. The 787 Dreamliner is the most successful program launch in commercial aviation history. Great job Boeing!