All Nippon Airways will next month become the first airline to operate the stretched B787-9 Dreamliner on a scheduled route.
The Japanese carrier is due to receive its first B787-9, which will come fitted with 395 seats, in Tokyo on July 29. It is thought this aircraft might have nine-across seating in economy (see news, July 2013), although this has not been confirmed.
It will then on August 4 fly a special commemmorative flight over Mount Fiji, taking off from Tokyo Haneda airport, for American and Japanese schoolchildren living in Japan.
The B787-9 will begin operating domestic routes from next month, before ANA plans to introduce the aircraft on international services in April 2015.
ANA was the launch customer for the Dreamliner and is the world's biggest operator of the B787, having ordered a total of 80 aircraft, including 36 787-8s (28 of which have already been delivered) and 44 787-9s.
Earlier this month, Air New Zealand became the first airline to take delivery of the B787-9 (see news, July 7).
ANZ will deploy the aircraft on its Auckland to Perth route from October 15, and later on flights to Shanghai and Tokyo.
Graham Smith
