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British Airways (BA) has ordered 36 new planes, its largest fleet order since 1998.

In a statement today the airline confirmed that it plans to acquire 12 Airbus A380 planes and 24 Boeing 787 aircraft. BA also has options for a further seven A380s and 18 more 787s.

The company says that the new planes will replace 34 of the airline's existing long-haul fleet and will be delivered between 2010 and 2014.

BA claims that the order, including options, will give the airline the ability to increase its capacity by up to four per cent a year.

The A380, Airbus' long-awaited superjumbo which has been plagued by production delays, will be used to provide more capacity for BA's high-density markets, the company stressed.

BA claims that the use of the plane, the first of which is due to be delivered to Singapore Airlines next month, will also maximise the use of scarce slots at London's Heathrow airport.

The B787 will be used on new routes and to increase flights in BA's existing markets, with the airline claiming that it will achieve lower costs per seat through the use of both planes.

Meanwhile, BA has emphasised that the new aircraft will be "greener, quieter and more fuel efficient", producing significantly lower carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

Commenting on the order BA chief executive Willie Walsh said: "It's great news for our business, our customers and the environment.

"These aircraft set the gold standard when it comes to environmental performance in the key areas of CO2 emissions, local air quality and noise.

"They will contribute significantly to our target of improving fuel efficiency by 25 per cent between 2005 and 2025," he added.