Boeing Co is the front-runner as Singapore Airlines Ltd closes in on an order for at least 35 wide-body aircraft, people familiar with the matter said.

Southeast Asia's biggest long-distance carrier is considering buying 20 of Boeing's long-range 777-9 jets, which are set to debut at decade's end, after studying a rival bid for Airbus Group SE's A350 aircraft, one of the people said.

The carrier is also poised to take at least 19 of the Boeing 787-10, the longest Dreamliner model, the person said.