Tag Archives: boeing 787 dreamliner aircraft

British Airways is set to introduce the Boeing 787 to Toronto

British Airways (London) is preparing to introduce the new Boeing 787-8 on its first long-haul route from London (Heathrow) to Toronto (Pearson) on September 1. The airline has released this statement for the impending new long distance service:

British Airways is debuting its new Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft with an inaugural long-haul flight between London (Heathrow) and Toronto (Pearson) on September 1 . The flight will arrive from London on Sunday afternoon at 14:55 local time and depart the same evening at 19:20, marking the first long-haul service for the airline’s new fleet.

Canadians will now be able to enjoy new levels of comfort and reduced jet-lag on their trips to Europe thanks to improvements in air quality, mood lighting, quieter cabins, and lower air pressure. The Dreamliner will fly exclusively between Toronto and London in September and beginning in October, between New York and London .

British Airways plans to add 24 new Dreamliner 787s to its fleet over the next four years. This is part of the airline’s investment of more than £5 billion worldwide in new aircrafts, smarter cabins, elegant lounges and new technologies to make life more comfortable in the air and on the ground.

The new aircraft accommodates 214 passengers, 35 in Club World (business class), 25 in World Traveller Plus (premium economy) and 154 in World Traveller (economy). The three newly designed cabins feature high quality materials, comfortable seats and increased bag storage. Customers in British Airways Club World cabin can take advantage of wide, full-flat beds and Club Kitchen, a snack bar open throughout the flight.

The 787 also has the largest windows of any commercial airliner, offering customers views of the horizon from every seat. Instead of pull down blinds, each one has its own dimmer switch.

British Airways’ 787 is fitted with the airline’s new Thales entertainment system. Each seat features a television screen and customers can choose from more than 700 hours of movies, TV and music, including 230 TV programs, 70 movies and 400 music albums and interactive games. Travelers can also communicate and play games with friends elsewhere on the aircraft using an in-seat chat system.

As part of its Dreamliner launch, British Airways has partnered with Toronto International Film Festival (T.I.F.F.) sponsor Variety. As part of the airline’s commitment to the entertainment industry, British Airways will co-present the magazine’s popular studio at the festival. Visitors to theVariety Studio will experience signature elements of the British Airways Dreamliner service.

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British Airways unveils seating plans for its new Airbus A380s and Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners, will take delivery of more Boeing 777-300 ERs

British Airways (London) has announced the seating plans for its new Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft on order. The company issued this statement:

With the first of the airline’s new long-haul aircraft only six months away from delivery, British Airways has announced the cabin design and layout for its Boeing 787 and Airbus A380 aircraft.

Two hundred and fourteen customers will enjoy the comforts of the new British Airways 787 Dreamliner and the A380 will be the largest aircraft in the British Airways fleet, with 469 customers.

The 24 Dreamliners and 12 A380s will feature the elegant cabin designs fitted on British Airways’ new Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft, which have proved hugely popular with customers.

All eight 787-8s will feature a new Club World 2:3:2 layout, the latest generation World Traveller and World Traveller Plus seats. In addition, the new A380 will also have an enhanced version of First. The exact seating plans of another 16 787-9s on order have yet to be finalized, they could have three or four-cabin configurations.

British Airways is set to be the first European airline to operate both new aircraft types, with its first Dreamliner arriving in May 2013 and A380 deliveries starting in July 2013.

The British Airways Dreamliner will have 35 seats for customers in the new Club World triple configuration of 2:3:2; 25 seats in a World Traveller Plus layout of 2:3:2; and a further 154 seats for those travelling in World Traveller, with a 3:3:3 configuration.

On the British Airways A380 there will be 14 seats in First on the main deck, with extra personal and stowage space; the Club World cabin will feature 44 seats in a 2:4:2 configuration; and there will be 199 seats in World Traveller, with a 3:4:3 layout.

The A380 upper deck will feature 53 seats in the new Club World triple configuration of 2:3:2; 55 seats in a 2:3:2 World Traveller Plus layout; and World Traveller will have 104 seats in a 2:4:2 configuration.

Both new aircraft will also feature the airline’s latest Thales inflight entertainment system, which offers customers 50 percent more movies, 200 percent more TV shows and 200 percent more audio programs and music*.

Customers will also benefit from new larger screens in all cabins and an easier to use system with shortcut buttons. They will also be able to connect personal devices, such as laptops and use the in-seat power available for the first time in all cabins.

In 2013, British Airways will take delivery of nine new longhaul aircraft. The first British Airways Dreamliner will be delivered in May 2013. A further three will arrive by the end of the year. The first A380 will be delivered in July, with additional deliveries in August and October. Two additional 777-300 ERs will arrive in September and October 2013.

British Airways will announce the routes the new aircraft will operate in Spring 2013.

* Compared with the Rockwell Collins audio video on-demand system deployed on British Airways fleet of Boeing 747s, 767 longhaul aircraft and most Boeing 777-200s.

Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems. More stretched Boeing 777-300 ERs will be joining the fleet. Boeing 777-36N ER G-STBC (msn 38287) arrives at the London Heathrow hub.

British Airways:

Air Canada to form a new leisure group with combination of new low-cost airline subsidiary and Air Canada Vacations

Air Canada (Montreal) has unveiled plans to form an integrated leisure group, combining the activities of its tour operator business, Air Canada Vacations, with its new low-cost leisure airline to launch in 2013. In addition, the airline announced the appointment of Michael Friisdahl as President and Chief Executive Officer to lead its new leisure group which will be a wholly owned subsidiary of Air Canada.

The new low-cost leisure carrier will commence service in June 2013 with two Boeing 767-300 ER aircraft and two Airbus A319 aircraft that will be released from Air Canada’s mainline fleet. It will serve popular holiday destinations in Europe and the Caribbean that are either currently underserved, or that do not generate adequate profitability with Air Canada’s existing cost structure. At launch, the leisure carrier will assume select Air Canada leisure services and will also operate certain new destinations not currently operated by Air Canada. Further details on the leisure airline’s summer 2013 program, schedule and product offering will be communicated later this fall with Air Canada’s 2013 schedule. The carrier’s plans are subject to obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals.

The leisure carrier will increase its fleet as Air Canada starts to take delivery of new Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft in 2014, thereby freeing up aircraft for transfer to the leisure carrier. As this occurs and subject to commercial demand, the leisure carrier may operate up to 20 Boeing 767-300 ER aircraft and 30 Airbus A319 aircraft, for a total of 50 aircraft.

On September 20, 2012, Air Canada announced that it will hire more than 900 employees over the next 12 months to meet its planned workforce requirements at the main airline. In addition, 200 new jobs will be created for flight attendants and pilots at the new low-cost leisure carrier.

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Boeing 767-300s will be freed up with the arrival of the 787 Dreamliners. Boeing 767-3U0 ER C-GHPF (msn 26206) completes its final approach into Miami International Airport (MIA).

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United Airlines to host a live webcast of first Boeing 787 Dreamliner roll out

United Airlines (Chicago) tomorrow (July 31) will host a live webcast of its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft rolling out of the paint hangar at Boeing’s Everett, Washington, facility. The webcast will stream live at unitedhub.com at 5:30 a.m. (0530) PDT (1230 GMT).

The live stream will provide viewers with a look at the airline’s customized livery that is exclusive to the Dreamliner fleet, featuring a gold line that wraps the fuselage and swoops from nose to tail. The swoop is inspired by the trademark swoop painted on each of Boeing’s aircraft and is being adopted for the United 787 in a tribute to the two companies’ long history of working together. United will take delivery of its first 787 in late September 2012.

To watch the live stream, visit unitedhub.com.

Top Image: United Airlines.