ANA to receive first B787 in Sep-2011

All Nippon Airways (ANA) stated (25-Jul-2011) it would operate its first revenue flight of the B787 as an international charter service from Tokyo Narita to Hong Kong. The first commercial service involving a B787 will take place approximately one month after the first aircraft is delivered to ANA, with delivery due in Sep-2011, with reports suggesting that the delivery will occur in the third week of Sep-2011 (Seattle Times, 25-Jul-2011). The Narita-Hong Kong maiden flight will be available to any customer who applies for the special package tour departing Tokyo which ANA is arranging. ANA will also operate two domestic excursion flights, also operating to/from Tokyo Narita, before the aircraft enters scheduled operations. The excursion flights will be available to ANA's frequent flyers and ANA Mileage Card members. The first B787 delivered will be deployed on ANA's regular domestic service following the charter services, either on the Tokyo Haneda-Okayama or Tokyo Haneda-Hiroshima route. Boeing had stated it expected the carrier to take delivery of the first B787 in Aug-2011 or Sep-2011. Boeing is not expected to deliver more than six B787s before the end of the year, due to the slow speed of reworking existing airframes. Boeing is due to provide an updated guidance on the B787 programme on 27-Jul-2011. [more]