The parent company of British Airways, IAG, is currently engaged in negotiations with both Airbus and Boeing to replace at least a part of their aging Boeing 777-200ERs, according to Reuters. The objective is a potential order of at least 20 widebody aircraft.
Currently, British Airways operates a fleet of forty-three Boeing 777-200ERs, along with sixteen 777-300ERs. This makes the smallest member of the triple seven family the most utilized aircraft on their long-haul routes. However, since 39 of these aircraft were delivered between 1997 and 2001, with only four delivered in 2009, the average age of the type is 23 years.
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British Airways still has 17 Boeing 787-10s on order, in addition to 2 Airbus A350-1000s and 18 Boeing 777-9s. Nonetheless, the company requires additional orders to completely replace its fleet of 777-200ERs.
Two weeks ago, IAG’s main competitor, Air France-KLM, revealed its plans to modernize its 777-200ER fleet. The aviation group has chosen the A350 to replace these aircraft, which will also serve as replacements for its Airbus A330s. KLM anticipates receiving its first A350 in 2026. The group aims to optimize its long-haul fleet and bolster its environmental and economic performance.