Boeing and Gulf Air have reached an agreement for up to 18 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, valued at $4.6 billion according to list prices. The deal includes 12 firm orders for the Boeing 787-9 model, with options for an additional six aircraft. This move is expected to support Gulf Air's plans to expand its long-haul international network, including a return to New York JFK Airport in October.
The signing ceremony took place during the official visit of Bahrain's Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa to Washington, D.C. US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Stephanie Pope, and Gulf Air Group Chairman Khalid Taqi were also present.
The new aircraft will be equipped with GE Aerospace's GEnx engines, as Gulf Air shifts from the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 due to ongoing technical issues. Gulf Air has been a customer of Boeing since 1961 and currently operates a fleet of ten 787-9s.