Boeing's "Queen of the Skies" won a reprieve Thursday as UPS said it would

buy as many as 28 747-8 freighters, a lifeline for the venerable jumbo jet.
The deal adds 14 firm orders to Boeing's backlog for the 747-8, worth $5.3
billion at list prices, though customers negotiate discounts with plane makers.
The deal includes options for 14 more 747s.
Boeing's 747-8 is the latest iteration of its iconic hump-backed airliner, with new
more fuel-efficient General Electric engines and aerodynamic improvements of
its wings.
"These aircraft are a strategic investment for increased capacity for UPS
customers around the globe," said Brendan Canavan, president, UPS Airlines.
"The 747-8 will allow UPS to upsize our network in both new and existing
markets."
Whether the big deal is a breath of life for the jumbo or its swan song will be
seen in the years to come. Big-name customers often swoop in near the end of
the life of a jetliner program to secure large deals at hefty
discounts. FedEx (FDX) in 2015 bought up to 100 new 767 freighter aircraft
from Boeing, which is transitioning production of the 767 to primarily being an
aerial refueling tanker for the U.S. Air Force.

Main idea of the text

The deal adds 14 firm orders to Boeing's backlog for the 747-8, worth $5.3
billion at list prices, though customers negotiate discounts with plane makers.
The deal includes options for 14 more 747s.

Definitions
Worth: valor : Cualidad o conjunto de cualidades por las que una persona o
cosa es apreciada o bien considerada
Deal: acuerdo: Decisin sobre algo tomada en comn por varias personas.

Aircraft: aeronave: Vehculo con o sin motor capaz de navegar por el aire.