ANA buys more Dreamliners

SEATTLE, 25 September 2012: All Nippon Airlines announced an order for an additional 11 787-9 Dreamliners.

According to the joint Boeing ANA press release the order is valued at US$2.7 billion at current list prices. It brings the number of 787s ANA has ordered to 66 aircraft consisting of 36 787-8s and 30 787-9s.

“The improved fuel efficiency and greater seating capacity of the 787-9 will provide ANA with added flexibility,” said Hideki Kunugi, Head of Aircraft Purchasing & Sales at ANA.

ANA, the launch customer for the 787 Dreamliner, is Boeing’s largest commercial airline customer for the 787 Dreamliner.

However, delivery delays seriously hampered ANA’s network plans built around the arrival of the technically advanced aircraft. It forced the airline to postpone route launches and caused substantial operational losses.

“As a repeat 787 customer we believe this is a game-changing airplane in commercial aviation,” said Boeing’s senior vice president of sales and marketing for Japan, Greater China and Korea Ihssane Mounir.

The airline has announced plans to launch a new route from Narita to San Jose starting January 2013 using the 787, while current services between Narita and Seattle service will switch to 787 operations on 1 October and the Haneda to Beijing service 28 October.

The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner is a slightly longer version of the 787-8 and will carry 250 to 290 passengers on routes of 8,000 to 8,500 nautical miles (14,800 to 15,750 km). (PRnewswire)

Sourced: ttrweekly