Singapore Airlines buys 31 aircraft

Singapore Airlines Ltd, Asia’s most profitable carrier, agreed to buy 31 Boeing 777 aircraft worth more than $7 billion (€5.78bn) as it tries to win long-haul passengers from Emirates and Cathay Pacific.

The airline will take delivery of 18 of the 777-300ER model between 2006 and 2010.

The airline decided not to buy Boeing’s new 7E7 “Dreamliner’ because it “did not meet” its “financial criteria”, Singapore Airlines said.

It also decided against buying Airbus SAS A330-200s.

Singapore Airlines, which operates 87 passenger aircraft, is focusing on improving service on flights to London, Los Angeles and other intercontinental routes as no-frills airlines expand in Southeast Asia.