Yesterday we got the great news that Qantas has selected the Boeing 787. It's a big order, from a big player in the industry, in what's shaping up to be a big year for the Dreamliner.

But let's talk about just how significant this is going to be for Qantas. The Australian carrier describes the 787 order as the cornerstone of its domestic and international fleet renewal program.

Dreamliners for Oz: the Qantas Group has ordered up to 115 Boeing 787s.

The plan calls for orders for 45 Dreamliners, with options for 20 more and purchase rights for an additional 50. The airplanes would join the Qantas fleet, as well as that of its new Jetstar operations.

Qantas' Chief Executive Officer, Geoff Dixon, said it was a tough competition, but in the end, Boeing emerged the better choice, for a lot of reasons that readers of this blog will find familiar. Here's what Dixon said:

The Qantas board recognized that adding 787s to their fleet means maximum flexibility, lower seat mile costs and greater fuel efficiency. As they pointed out in their announcement, these are airplanes that position Qantas strongly for the future in the face of increasing competition.

Now, from my point of view, this is a continued validation of the 787's capabilities and Boeing's strategic direction in the market. The Qantas order takes the total now to 26 customers who have ordered and committed to the 787 program. A total of 354 orders and commitments for airplanes so far. And it's interesting to note that 21 of those customers have joined the 787 family since Airbus offered the A350 about a year ago.

But getting back to the Qantas announcement, I have to admit that this one really thrills me personally. I've been involved with the Australian airline industry since my early days as an airline financial analyst for Boeing. I've made more trips to Australia than I can count, and I've studied their market for 25 years.

This is yet another Qantas leap into the future for a great airline and a true aviation pioneer. To that I say, "Good onya!"