Business in brief: British Airways orders 24 787s
Boeing Co. said Thursday it finalized a deal with British Airways, notching 790 orders for its long-awaited 787 Dreamliner plane during the last three years.
British Airways’ order for 24 Dreamliners gives the plane one of the industry’s most successful launches ever – even though the airliner has yet to take flight.
Boeing expects to fly the first 787 around the end of the first quarter of 2008 and begin deliveries in late November or December.
The British Airways deal is worth $4.4 billion at list prices.
Associated Press
LEWISTON, Idaho
Horizon trimming flights to Seattle
Horizon Airlines is cutting two flights from Seattle to Lewiston, but the company hopes to offset the loss by using bigger jets on its three remaining flights connecting the two cities.
Horizon spokesman Bill Coniff says the changes follow the Federal Aviation Administration’s decision to allow the landing of bigger planes at the Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport.
Starting in April, Horizon will use turboprop Bombardier Q-400s with 74 seats instead of slower Q-200s with 37 seats at the two northern Idaho airports.
Those bigger planes will be used on flights from Lewiston to Boise, increasing capacity by 100 seats.
Associated Press
OTHELLO
Economic growth is luncheon topic
Speakers will address rural economic development and the challenges rural communities face at a lunch meeting Thursday held by the Adams County Development Council.
The council said in a news release that the luncheon will serve as an opportunity for citizens, business owners and potential developers to learn more about the organization.
Reservations are due today for the event, which will be held at noon at the Pilgrim Lutheran Church, 640 E. Elm St. in Othello. For more information, call (509) 659-1020 or (509) 488-5686.
Staff reports
NEWPORT, Ore.
Storms brought drop in tourism
Business owners at the Oregon coast are hoping for fairer days when it comes to tourism, after seeing the number of visitors to the region drop because of December storms.
“We were having a really strong fall, but then all of a sudden that storm hit, and it was just like, bam, the bottom fell out, and there were days we’d make $15,” said Deborah Trusty of the Village Market & Deli in Newport. “It was hardly worth opening.”
Coastal business owners who count on holiday traffic say they are not doing well, even though there has been little damage, as in the case of Trusty’s business.
In Seaside, power outages meant many stores were closed for as many as five days during a week that is typically one of the best during the holiday season.
The lights are back but the problem persists.
“December was horrible,” said Jane Lorge, owner of Islands, who has been in business since 1996.
Associated Press