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US Commerce Secretary says Britain to order Boeing ( BA ) jets

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Industry sources say IAG to split order with Airbus

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Deal includes around 30 Boeing 787, 30 Airbus jets, they

say

(Recasts, adding details of Airbus order)

By Andrea Shalal and Paul Sandle

WASHINGTON/LONDON, May 8 (Reuters) - The United States

said on Thursday Britain would purchase $10 billion of Boeing ( BA )

jets and industry sources said British Airways owner IAG

would also buy some 30 jets from Europe's Airbus in a

fleet expansion split between transatlantic rivals.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick revealed the U.S.

part of the jet order on Thursday during the announcement of a

bilateral trade deal between Britain and the United States.

Such an order would add to an already large backlog of

Boeing ( BA ) planes slated for UK purchasers - 149 in total, according

to Boeing's ( BA ) published backlog.

Lutnick said he would let the airline making the purchase

announce the details.

IAG plans to order around 30 Boeing 787 jets and a similar

number of Airbus long-haul planes including the A350 and A330neo

models, according to three sources familiar with the matter.

"It's a split order," one of the sources told Reuters.

Details of the purchase were expected to be announced with

IAG's quarterly earnings on Friday.

Boeing ( BA ) and Airbus declined comment and IAG could not

immediately be reached for comment.

Bloomberg News reported that IAG was poised to order 30

Boeing 787s and could secure options for further purchases.

The UK-based airline group, whose carriers also include

Iberia and Aer Lingus, is among the most influential aircraft

buyers and its decisions are closely watched by other airlines.

Big-ticket aircraft purchases have captured wider attention

across the globe as the industry is buffeted by trade tensions.

The European Union earlier included Boeing ( BA ) jets in a list

of items earmarked for possible tariffs on U.S. goods if trade

talks break down.

Airlines in non-EU Britain already have orders in the works

for 109 Boeing ( BA ) planes and a leasing company has another 40 on

order, according to Boeing's ( BA ) website.

Based on the models ordered, UK companies have an estimated

$12 billion-plus worth in planes due from Boeing ( BA ) after allowing

for typical industry discounts.

Planemakers have been wrestling with supply chain snags and

other challenges that have delayed deliveries.

Boeing ( BA ) is trying to ramp up production of its strongest

selling 737 MAX jet to a rate of 38 per month this year, after a

difficult 2024 when output slumped due to a broad quality crisis

that led to the replacement of its CEO.