ANA operates world’s first B787 passenger flight; expects annual sayings of USD130m p/a from B787s

All Nippon Airways (ANA) operated (26-Oct-2011) the first ever passenger flight of the B787 (powered by twin Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines) on 26-Oct-2011. The specially chartered flight departed from Tokyo Narita International Airport, with more than 240 passengers of board just after midday and landed four and a half hours later in Hong Kong. ANA has ordered 55 B787s from Boeing and has already received two aircraft, with a total of 20 slated for delivery by the end of FY2012 (Mar-2013). Nine B787s are expected at the carrier before the end of Mar-2012, one less than previously expected (Bloomberg, 26-Oct-2011). The B787s will eventually help ANA save JPY10 billion p/a (USD130 million) through fuel savings, the carrier has forecast. However, ANA CEO and president Shinichiro Ito stated delays to the B787 had put the carrier "through hard times" (Reuters, 26-Oct-2011). Scheduled services featuring the B787 will commence on 01-Nov-2011 to domestic Japanese destinations and international services on ANA will commence in the following two months with initial services to Beijing and Frankfurt. The B787 has strong links with Japan, with Japanese manufacturers providing approximately 35% of all the aircraft parts, including key sections of the wings and fuselage. [more - original PR]

ANA: "ANA is proud to be the world's first airline to fly the 787 Dreamliner. This revolutionary new aircraft will transform air travel for passengers and help ANA in its strategic goal of becoming Asia's number one airline. The innovative design features of the 787 Dreamliner, many pioneered here in Japan, will benefit passengers, airlines and the environment alike. As the aircraft's launch customer, ANA was honoured to work alongside Boeing in the development of the 787 Dreamliner and we are now looking forward to introducing more of these fantastic aircraft across our network," CEO and president, Shinichiro Ito. Source: Company statement, 26-Oct-2011.