Singapore Airlines to finalize $13.8b Boeing order next week

Singapore Airlines said Friday it will finalise an order for 39 Boeing aircraft worth $13.8b at list prices when Singaporean PM Lee Hsien Loong visits Washington D.C. next week. The airline said in February it would order 20 777-9 and 19 787-10 widebodies as part of plans to modernize its fleet over the next decade, but the deal is yet to be finalised and placed in Boeing's order book. The deal was viewed as a major blow to Airbus SE as it battles against Boeing in the widebody market. Airbus has lagged Boeing in net orders in the first nine months of the year, with 271 at the end of September versus 498 for its US rival. Lee said Thursday that he hoped to sign an agreement with Boeing to buy more aircraft for Singapore Airlines during his US visit from Oct. 22 to 26. More details about the order would be revealed after the signing ceremony in Washington, a Singapore Airlines spokesman said.<br/>