Bloomberg

Manama, Jan 14 (mb): Gulf Air, Bahrain’s loss-making national carrier, signed a $6 billion agreement with Boeing for the delivery of 24 Dreamliner aircraft to begin in 2016, a spokesman for the airline, Adnan Malik, said on Sunday.

The deal includes a firm order for 16 of the 787-8 airliners worth $3.4 billion and options for an additional eight, Mr. Malik said by phone from Bahrain. The carrier is also considering alternatives from Boeing and its rival, Airbus, to fly short-haul routes and could order a total of 45 new planes including Sunday’s order, he said.

The Dreamliner is Boeing’s most successful new program in terms of sales, with more than 800 orders valued at more than $120 billion. It ranked second in commercial orders last year behind the 737 narrow-body model.

Middle Eastern carriers posted orders and options worth about $85 billion with Airbus and Boeing at the Dubai Air Show to meet surging travel demand.