by Devesh Agarwal
US Airframer Boeing delivered to flag carrier, British Airways, its first two Boeing 787 Dreamliners from an existing order of 24.
See video below the fold
The first of the aircraft G-ZBJB flew as flight BA787 from Paine Field in the city of Everett near Seattle, and arrived at London’s Heathrow Airport about two hours ago at 12:10 local time (11:10Z). The airplane was welcomed by Mr. Willie Walsh, chief executive officer of International Airlines Group (IAG), the company that owns British Airways.
British Airways has announced that the airline will operate the 787 on flights from Heathrow to Toronto starting September 1 and to Newark from October 1.
The British Airways 787 Dreamliner carries 214 passengers and is configured with 35 seats in Club World, 25 in World Traveller Plus (economy plus) and 154 seats in the World Traveller (economy) cabin. Unfortunately the airline has chosen the dense nine-abreast 3-3-3 bone-crunching configuration in its economy class.
British Airways operates more than 140 Boeing airplanes within its fleet including 52 777s, as well as the world’s largest fleet of 747s with 52.
IAG recently announced that it will convert 18 787 options to firm orders for British Airways, subject to shareholder agreement. Twelve of these will be 787-10s, meaning British Airways will operate the entire 787 family – the 787-8, 787-9 and 787-10.
See a picture of the Dreamliner arriving at Heathrow here.
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