Qantas Group says it wants 787-9s, but have to be brought in under the right conditions

Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce, speaking on the release of its 1HFY2015 results, said (26-Feb-2015) a series of conditions still have to be met before the carrier will exercise its 50 Boeing 787-9 options. Mr Joyce explained: "We and everybody in Qantas wants to see those aircraft coming in, but the aircraft have to make the right returns, have to be brought in under the right conditions and have to be brought in when the balance sheet of Qantas is strong enough to take it." The conditions include returning Qantas International to profitability, which has since been achieved, paying down AUD1 billion (USD780 million) of debt and reaching a new agreement with long-haul pilots to operate the aircraft. Qantas Group CFO Gareth Evans added: "We've got 50 options and purchase rights spread out over the remainder of the decade and there's pretty much complete flexibility in terms of what we take and when." According to the CAPA Fleet Database, Qantas has options for 50 787-9 aircraft with the first delivery slot available in 2017. As previously reported by CAPA, Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said the carrier's Boeing 787-9 options are flexible and the carrier has leeway to alter the confirmation and delivery schedule if required. The carrier reportedly has 20 firm delivery slots which must be confirmed by the end of 2015.