All Nippon Airlines, the Japanese carrier that took the first delivery of Boeing’s Dreamliner jet last year, has contracted the OEM for 11 more 787s. The new order is valued at $2.7 billion at current list prices. Counting the latest orders, All Nippon will have a total of 66 Dreamliners, including 36 787-8s and 30 787-9s.
"The improved fuel efficiency and greater seating capacity of the 787-9 will provide ANA with added flexibility," stated ANA’s head of Aircraft Purchasing & Sales, Hideki Kunugi. "The new Dreamliners will also help support the profitable expansion of ANA's international and domestic routes in the future."
After about two years of delays in the delivery, Boeing Commercial Airplanes unveiled its Dreamliner with a formal presentation to its “launch customer” ANA in August 2011.
The “Dreamliner” is a wide-body twin-engine aircraft with long range and carrying capacity for 210 to 330 passengers. Boeing says it is its most fuel-efficient commercial jet, with a structure based on a large volume of composite materials helping to reduce fuel consumption by up to 20% versus similar-size jets. A more advanced aerodynamic design than previous jets, more-electric systems, and modern engines add to the 787’s appeal to airlines.
The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner is a slightly longer version of the standard 787-8, and will carry 250-290 passengers on routes of 8,000 to 8,500 nautical miles (14,800 to 15,750 km.) The 787 travels at speeds comparable to other Boeing twin-aisle airplanes, the manufacturer noted.
"As a repeat 787 customer we are honored to have ANA validate the 787 as a truly game-changing airplane in commercial aviation," stated Boeing’s Ihssane Mounir, senior vice president of Sales and Marketing for Japan, Greater China and Korea, Commercial Airplanes. "We look forward to celebrating many more milestones with ANA and are committed to supporting ANA as we continue to make history together."
ANA plans to launch a new route for its 787 fleet from Tokyo’s Narita Airport to San Jose, beginning in January 2013. Current service between Narita and Seattle will convert to 787 on October 1. Service from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport to Beijing will switch to the 787 on October 28.
