AP

LONDON - British Airways PLC said Wednesday it ordered four Boeing 777-200 ER aircraft to bolster its fleet.

The aircraft, worth about $800 million in total, will be delivered in 2009, the company said in a statement. British Airways also took options for four more aircraft for delivery the following year.

"It was a close decision between the Boeing 777s and Airbus A330s," said Robert Boyle, British Airways' commercial director.

Negotiations continue with General Electric Co. and Rolls-Royce PLC about engines for the new planes, the airline said.

British Airways said it would continue to consider Airbus' A330, A350 and A380 as well as Boeing's 787, 777 and 747-8 aircraft in renewing its long-haul fleet over the next decade.

The first aircraft to be replaced are 20 Boeing 747s and 14 Boeing 767s, which are up to 17 years old.