Aeroplane News (Saturday)

Category Archives for Aeroplane News (Saturday).

Thomson 787

Thomson airlines, the European launch customer for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, have been running a competition to name their first plane using the hashtag: #nameourplane  This is a clever way to get publicity for their first 787 which will arrive in early 2013 with services starting 1st May, 2013. Another three  are expected to be delivered in 2013, three more in 2014 and  one in 2015.  This will give the carrier eight of these planes. The ‘Thomson 787 will carry 291 passengers, which is more cozier than any other carrier so far. This compares with Ethiopian’s 270, United’s 219…

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Qatar 787 -at last!

One hundred passengers joined Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker for the delivery flight of their 787 from Seattle to Doha on November 17. I am in no way envious! Qatar are the Middle Eastern launch customer for the 787 having ordered 60 of the planes – 30 firm with options for 30 more. Qatar is rated a five star airline and has been nominated airline of the year twice by Skytrax. They are the newest entrant to One World. I have yet to fly them.  Qatar Airways had refused to take delivery of the first five of their 787s…

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Norwegian selling 787 Tickets

Norwegian Air Shuttle  began selling tickets for their New York JFK and Bangkok Boeing 787 services on Thursday November 8 for flights from May 30th, 2013. Some very cheap seats were available -and they were selling fast. The carrier will fly between Oslo (Norway) and Stockholm (Sweden) three times a week. Seats on Norwegian’s 787 will be nine across 3-3-3 in economy class with a 31″ pitch. The airline is also introducing a Premium Cabin on the 787,  configured six across 2-2-2 with a 46″ pitch. Up to now, the airline has been all one class.…

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787 Air India door failure

Much reporting but no details about the non closing cargo door of Air India’s second Boeing 787 delivered last month. Registration:  VTADN.  The reports are saying that the front cargo door ‘disintegrated’. The airline is saying nothing hit the plane. They are waiting for a spare to arrive.  Boeing, of course, is investigating the matter. There were some suggestions that because the plane is made of composites, this was the issue.

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ANA adds EVEN MORE 787s

ANA (All Nippon Airways) is purchasing  eleven more Boeing 787-9 aircraft valued at $USD3.3 billion) for delivery between 2018 and  2021, the carrier said in a statement. ANA  plans to switch its Narita to Seattle service to 787 aircraft from 1st October and between Tokyo and Beijing from 28th October.   Tokyo Narita to San Jose, California will follow in January 2013. When added with existing orders, these purchases bring ANA’s Dreamliner fleet to 36 B787-8s and 30 B787-9s. The 787-8 is the base model of the 787 family: 57 metres long (186 feet),  a wingspan of…

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787 September 2012 Update

The speed at which airlines are adding 787s is overwhelming.  This week marks the first anniversary of the handover of the first 787 All Nippon Airways (ANA) on September 25, 2011. The carrier now own 13 of the Dreamliners.  ANA were followed by: Japan Air Lines: March, 2012- currently have five Ethiopian:  August 14, 2012 -one LAN August 31, 2012  – one Air India September 8, 2012 – received two 787s United Airlines will probably get their first 787 next week Qatar was meant to get their 787 but it has been delayed for some technical issues Related Posts LOT…

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A380 arrives at Thai this week

Thai Airways will take delivery of its first Airbus A380 this week on 28th September, 2012.  After delivery the craft will bear the registration: HS-TUA.  Thai will become the ninth operator of the A380 after Singapore, Emirates, Qantas, Air France, Lufthansa, Korean,  China Southern and Malaysian. The airline has firm orders for six A380s and will operate the aircraft between Bangkok  and Hong Kong next month. This will be followed by Bangkok and Singapore then Bangkok and Frankfurt followed by Tokyo and Paris in 2013. Related Posts Time for Thai’s A380 I wanna fly Malaysian China Southern’s Third 380  Tuesday Trip…

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LOT announces 787 services

At last a European carrier gets their turn. LOT Polish Airlines has announced that the carrier’s inaugural Boeing 787 service from Warsaw to Chicago will be on January 16, 2013. This will be followed closely by Warsaw to Toronto on February 1 and to New York  JFK on February 3. LOT Polish Airlines will launch Boeing 787 service to Beijing a month later, on March 3. LOT is offering 252 seats all with individual entertainment in three classes of service on the new aircraft. This compares with JAL’s 186 seats, ANA’s 216, United with 219 and Ethiopian’s 270 seats. Elite Club (business…

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Bollywood Epic: Air India’s 787

Wasn’t sure this was going to happen  but State-run carrier Air India’s first Boeing 787  has been delivered! The plane touched down at Terminal 3 of Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International airport on September 8th at around 1700h (5pm). Behind the delivery is a saga of Bollywood proportions! First up, there is  Air India’s precarious financial state. There was talk that the carrier may simply sell the planes to another carrier. Add to that,  a dispute between Boeing  and Air India over compensation for the four year delay in delivery. Three of the 787s have sat waiting in South Carolina for…

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