All Nippon Airways planning first international B787 service in Mar-2011

All Nippon Airways (ANA) Executive Vice-President, Katsumi Nakamura, stated the carrier, the first B787 customer, plans to commence operations with the aircraft on international routes in Mar-2011, to increase its international competitiveness as Japan Airlines reduces international capacity (Bloomberg, 04-Jun-2010). The carrier is considering using the equipment on services to China, Los Angeles, San Francisco, London, Paris, Frankfurt and Munich. ANA expects to receive its first B787 in Nov-2010, for use on domestic routes. The B787s will replace B767 aircraft in the fleet. ANA became the first airline to operate the B787 last month in a test flight and plans to commence training pilots from Sep-2010.

ANA: "It's indispensible; without the 787 we wouldn't be able to go ahead with our plans. Boeing seems very confident in being able to deliver the plane this year," Katsumi Nakamura, Executive VP. Source: Bloomberg, 04-Jun-2010.