LAN Airlines (Santiago) and Boeing (Chicago) yesterday (August 31) celebrated the delivery of the first 787-8  Dreamliner (CC-BBA) to LAN making it the first airline in the Americas to receive the new airplane.

LAN is only the fourth customer in the world to include the Boeing 787 in its fleet with 32 of this new aircraft on order and lease.

LAN’s top executives, Boeing representatives and authorities celebrated the delivery at an event at the Future of Flight Aviation Center in Mukilteo, Washington, near Boeing’s 787 final assembly factory in Everett.

The 787 Dreamliner is composed of light-weight composites and features numerous systems, engine and aerodynamic advancements making it more efficient to operate compared with its competition. It is the first mid-sized airplane capable of flying long-range routes, enabling airlines to open new, non-stop routes preferred by passengers.

The first cities that LAN’s fleet of 787s will fly to are Santiago, Buenos Aires, Lima, Los Angeles, Madrid and Frankfurt. The aircraft will begin to fly commercially in the next few months, and these routes will be added gradually during its first year of operation.

Top Copyright Photo: Nick Dean. Boeing 787-8 CC-BBA (msn 38471) arrives back at Everett (Paine Field) after a test flight before the hand over.

Bottom Copyright Photo: Alvaro Romero. CC-BBA is pictured being tugged after arriving at its Santiago, Chile base on September 1 at 09:45 am (0945) (GMT-4) local time. The aircraft performed a flypast over Runway 17L, then landed at 10:00 am (1000). CC-BBA was received with a water cannon salute courtesy of SCL Airport fire and rescue service (Servicio de Salvamento y Extinción de Incendio, SSEI).

LAN Airlines: