IAG Confirms Order for 71 Wide-Body Airbus and Boeing Aircraft
International Airlines Group (IAG), the parent company of British Airways, Iberia, Vueling, and Aer Lingus, confirmed on Friday an ambitious fleet expansion with the acquisition of 71 wide-body aircraft, split between aerospace giants Airbus and Boeing. This strategic move comes just after the United Kingdom and the United States signed a new trade agreement, which includes a British purchase of Boeing aircraft valued at $10 billion.
The order includes:
- 32 Boeing 787-10s for British Airways, powered by General Electric engines.
- 21 Airbus A330-900neos with Rolls-Royce engines.
- Options exercised since March: 6 Airbus A350-900s, 6 Airbus A350-1000s, and 6 Boeing 777-9s.
In total, the order comprises 33 Airbus aircraft and 38 Boeing aircraft.
Impact on the Industry and Long-Term Strategy
This order strengthens IAG’s position as one of the most influential aircraft buyers in the sector. Market analysts, such as Alex Irving of Bernstein, note that such decisions reflect long-term strategies, as the new aircraft will not be delivered before the 2030s.
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“Airlines must plan over multi-year timeframes. They have aircraft reaching the end of their service life that will need replacement. Boeing and Airbus already have their production lines committed for years,” Irving commented.
Pricing, Options, and Purchase Rights
According to January 2025 list prices, an A330-900neo is valued at approximately $374 million, and a 787−10 at $397 million, though airlines typically negotiate significant discounts.
Additionally, British Airways secured options to acquire up to 10 additional Boeing 787s, and the group holds purchase rights for 13 more A330-900neos under its agreement with Airbus.
Context: Recovery and Global Tensions
The order was announced following IAG’s positive quarterly results. Its CEO, Luis Gallego, emphasized that the negotiation of this agreement had been in the works for some time.
The decision comes amid global trade tensions and after a challenging year for Boeing, which is working to ramp up production of the 737 MAX following a quality crisis that led to the departure of its CEO.
Currently, Boeing has a total of 149 aircraft in its order backlog for UK buyers.
IAG’s order for 71 aircraft sends a clear signal of confidence in the sector’s recovery and a firm commitment to modernizing its fleet.
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