All Nippon Airways today received its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.
The aircraft manufacturer delivered its stretched Dreamliner to the Japanese carrier in Tokyo.
As reported last week (see news, July 24), ANA will next month become the first airline to operate the stretched B787-9 Dreamliner on a scheduled route.
ANA now has 29 B787s in its fleet, more than any other airline. It was the launch customer for the Dreamliner, having ordered a total of 80 aircraft, including 36 787-8s (28 of which have already been delivered) and 44 787-9s.
Osamu Shinobe, ANA president and CEO, said: "The 787 Dreamliner is a key element in our growth strategy and we are proud to be the first airline to fly both models of the 787 family.
"The new 787-9 will build on the exceptional efficiency of the 787-8 and will allow us to meet growing demand that is anticipated ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics.
"Our customers have expressed their pleasure with the comfort of the 787's innovative cabin features and we are excited to introduce the new 787 variant into our fleet."
ANA's B787-9 has come fitted with 395 seats. It is thought this aircraft might have nine-across seating in economy (see news, July 2013), although this has not been confirmed.
On August 4, ANA will 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 has 29 more 787-9s on order with commitments for 14 more.
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
