RJ receives first Boeing 787 Dreamliner
This year will also see the introduction of other four Dreamliners, an aircraft each month on average. By the end of 2014, there will be five, whereas the remainder of the order will join the fleet during the next few years.
RJ Chairman of the Board/ President& CEO Nasser Lozi, United States Ambassador to Jordan Alice Wells, the board members, a number of officials working at the airport authorities, RJ heads of departments and some employees received the aircraft at Queen Alia International Airport upon the arrival of the ferry flight from its place of manufacture, Boeing, Seattle to the base Amman.
Lozi said "RJ is proud to introduce this model into the RJ fleet, which marks another achievement for the airline and a new era in the history of the Jordanian civil aviation."
He added that the 787s will pave the way for RJ to step into a significant new period, and is a step that pushes the national carrier of Jordan forward in terms of onboard services and route network, enhancing its competitiveness at regional and international levels.
According to the company's long-haul fleet modernization plan, the Dreamliners will replace the currently operating A340s and A330s.
Lozi stressed that the 787 will offer passengers more luxury and comfort on long-range flights, by featuring larger windows and more legroom. "RJ's preparations to introduce the 787 went smoothly and according to the plan, in constant coordination with Boeing," he said.
Ray Conner, president and CEO, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said: "The Middle East is one of the world's highest growth areas for commercial aviation and we are proud that Royal Jordanian has selected the 787 to spearhead its fleet modernization strategy and route expansion plans. We look forward to further strengthening our partnership with Royal Jordanian well into the future."
With this delivery, Royal Jordanian becomes only the second airline in the Middle East to operate the 787.
Boeing trained tens of RJ pilots to fly the 787. It also held training sessions in Jordan and abroad in maintenance and inflight services of the Dreamliner.
Captain Haitham Misto, Head of Flight Operations Department, flew the plane from Seattle to Amman for 13 continuous hours. Also onboard were RJ and Boeing pilots, a number of RJ engineers, technicians and officials.
In Seattle, Boeing held a ceremony upon the delivery of the first 787 to Royal Jordanian, which will start running it on a regular basis at the beginning of September.
In addition to providing airlines with unprecedented fuel economy and low operating costs, the 787 features a host of new technologies that greatly enhance the passenger experience. RJ will configure its Dreamliner to carry 24 passengers business class seats and 246 in economy. Customers in all classes will also experience cabin environment improvements such as LED mood lighting, larger windows, bigger overhead bins, lower cabin altitude and enhanced ventilation systems, among other features.
To support Royal Jordanian's 787 Dreamliners, Boeing is providing a comprehensive suite of support and services through its Commercial Aviation Services business. Royal Jordanian has received flight and maintenance training and will be using Airplane Health Management, a diagnostic and predictive capability that evaluates airplane operations data while airplanes are in flight and notifies ground crews of potential maintenance issues; a Rotable Exchange Program that provides a dedicated pool of high-value, mission-critical parts and manages inventory at a reduced cost; and Maintenance Performance Toolbox, a digital real-time-information tool that enables quick resolution of airplane maintenance issues.