British Airways will become the first European airline to introduce both the Airbus A380 and the Boeing 787 into its fleet, it was announced today.
The carrier will take UK delivery of its first two Dreamliners on consecutive days at the end of this month - June 26 and 27 - followed by its first A380 on July 4.
Following their arrival, both aircraft types will begin what BA describes as a "complex entry into service programme".
This involves pilot and cabin crew training at Manston Airport in Kent, customer service trials at Heathrow, and short-haul flying for both aircraft, including flights within the UK.
Seats on the A380 are currently on sale for travel from October 15 to Los Angeles and from November 15 to Hong Kong. The first destinations for the 787s are due to be announced "shortly".
Keith Williams, BA's chief executive, said: "The delivery of these exciting aircraft opens a new chapter in British Airways' history. We are proud to be leading the way in Europe in operating both these aircraft types.
"Over the next 12 months, we will take delivery of new long-haul aircraft at an average rate of one every two weeks. These deliveries form the centrepiece of the £5 billion investment British Airways is making in new aircraft, smarter cabins, superb lounges and new technologies to make travel more comfortable in the air and on the ground.
“Both aircraft types make major environmental advances and will contribute toward our ambitious targets for noise and carbon reduction."
China Southern is currently the only airline to have both A380s and B787s in its fleet.
Last week, it emerged that BA has agreed to codeshare on routes with Bangkok Airways (see online news, June 5). The agreement covers four routes between Bangkok and Singapore, Koh Samui, Phuket and Chiang Mai.
For more information, visit ba.com.
Graham Smith
