ANA puts the first Boeing 787 Dreamliner into revenue service

ANA (All Nippon Airways) (Tokyo) made aviation history today (October 26) by operating the first ever revenue passenger flight of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

The specially chartered flight took off from Tokyo (Narita Airport) with more than 240 passengers of board just after midday and landed four and a half hours later in Hong Kong.

Built mainly from carbon fiber composite material, the Dreamliner raises the bar for fuel efficiency and passenger comfort. The 787 uses 20% less fuel, meaning it is the first mid-size airplane capable of flying long-range routes while cutting carbon emissions.

The Dreamliner’s other innovation include:

1. Passenger-friendly cabin air pressure – Passenger comfort will be improved by maintaining air pressure inside the cabin at the equivalent of an altitude of 6,000 feet (1,800m), noticeably lower than the 8,000 feet (2,400m) maintained on conventional aircraft. The plane’s composite materials also allow for humidity to be maintained at a more comfortable level for passengers.

2. Auto-dimming windows – The 787’s windows are 30% larger than those on the Boeing 767. A higher eye level means passengers can maintain a view of the horizon throughout the flight while smart glass “auto-dimming” windows use electro-chromatic technology to reduce cabin glare at a touch of a button while allowing passengers to still see outside.

3. Largest overhead compartments yet – approximately 30% larger than those on the Boeing 777, the overhead compartments are the largest in the industry and have enough space to hold four large-size carry-on bags.

The 787 Dreamliner has strong links with Japan, with Japanese manufacturers providing approximately 35% of all the aircraft parts, including key sections of the wings and fuselage.

ANA has ordered 55 Dreamliners from Boeing and has already received two planes, with a total of 20 expected to be delivered by the end of FY2012. The Dreamliners will eventually help ANA save $130 million through fuel savings.

Scheduled services featuring the Dreamliner will begin on November 1, 2011 to domestic Japanese destinations and international services on ANA will commence in the following two months with flights initially to Beijing and Frankfurt.

ANA Slide Show: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Nick Dean. Please click on the photo for additional information.

Video of the historic event from telegraphtv: