Qatar Airways announces new route to Edinburgh

By BA Staff

Qatar Airways will begin five flights weekly to the Scottish capital of Edinburgh effective 28 May 2014.

The new route will be served by a Boeing 787 Dreamliner in a two-cabin configuration, offering passengers 22 Business Class and 232 Economy Class seats.

QR 027 departs Doha (DOH) at 08:00 on all days except Tuesdays and Thursdays and arrives Edinburgh (EDI) at 13:15
QR 028 departs Edinburgh (EDI) at 14:45 on all days except Tuesdays and Thursdays and arrives Doha (DOH) at 23:40

In 2013, Qatar Airways has launched eleven destinations to date – Gassim (Saudi Arabia), Najaf (Iraq), Phnom Penh (Cambodia), Chicago (USA), Salalah (Oman), Basra (Iraq), Sulaymaniyah (Iraq), Chengdu (China), Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), Ta’if (Saudi Arabia) and most recently Clark Manila International Airport (Philippines).

Over the next few weeks and months, the airline will expand its network with services to Hangzhou, China (December 20, 2013), Sharjah and Dubai World Central, both in the UAE (March 1, 2014), Philadelphia, USA (April 2, 2014) and Miami, USA (June 10, 2014).

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Boeing, TUI travel PLC complete order for two 787-8s

By BA Staff

Boeing and TUI Travel, one of the world's leading leisure travel companies, have completed an order for two 787-8 Dreamliners. The deal, worth $424 million at current list prices, extends TUI Travel's 787 commitment to 15 airplanes. The purchase was originally attributed on the Boeing orders and deliveries website to an unidentified customer.

 TUI took delivery of its first 787-8 Dreamliner in May and now has four airplanes in service.

TUI Travel originally ordered the 787 in February 2005. Currently, the Group's subsidiary Thomson Airways is using the airplane on such routes as Thailand, Caribbean and the Maldives.

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Etihad kicks off Dubai airshow with mamomth Boeing 777-9X, 777-8X and 787-10 order

by Devesh Agarwal

From top, clockwise, Boeing CGI of Etihad 787-10, 777-8X, 777-9X

United Arab Emirates' (UAE) national carrier, Etihad Airways PJSC, kicked off the Dubai Air Show with a massive order for 56 wide-body Boeing aircraft with options to purchase for an additional 26 aircraft taking the quantity up to 82 at a list price valuation of $25.2 billion.

The Abu Dhabi-based carrier's order includes 25 777X airplanes, comprising 17 777-9Xs and eight 777-8Xs, subject to program launch. Etihad Airways is the first airline to order the 777-8X and will be a launch customer of the airplane, which is expected to enter service around the end of the decade. The order includes options and purchase rights for 12 additional 777X airplanes.

The airline also ordered 30 Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners, the high-capacity, medium-haul, and longest member of the Dreamliner family. Combined with the carrier's previous orders for 41 787-9s, today's order makes Etihad the world's largest airline customer for the Dreamliner family with a total of 71 787s on order. The order includes options and purchase rights for an additional 12 787-10s.

Today’s announcement also includes the milestone 1,000th Boeing 787 Dreamliner to be ordered.

Etihad also ordered one Boeing 777F freighter which is based on the 777-200LR.

The 777X is the upgrade of the venerable Boeing 777 family featuring new composite wings as seen on the 747-8 and 787 family aircraft, along with new GEnx engines which GE promises will be about 10% more fuel efficient. The 777X

The Boeing 777-9X is a stretched, more fuel-efficient version of Boeing ultra-popular 777-300ER. Typically seating 400 passengers, the 777-9X will be capable of flying the same distances as its predecessor, but with up to 40 more passengers, with lower operating costs and reduced fuel consumption per seat. The 777-9X was launched less than two months ago with an order from German flag carrier Lufthansa. Eithad is expected to start receiving its 777-9X from 2020.

The Boeing 777-8X is an upgraded version of the ultra long-haul Boeing 777-200LR, which Etihad recently purchased from Indian flag carrier Air India, to serve the Abu Dhabi – Los Angeles route. The -8X will replace the LRs when the start arriving in 2022. [Read our analysis on why the 777-200LR is ill-suited to Air India's operations]

The Boeing 787-10 is the largest and latest version of the Dreamliner family, typically carrying more than 320 passengers, up to 50 more than the 787-9 which Etihad Airways will introduce late in 2014. The aircraft will be capable of flying between Abu Dhabi and medium-haul destinations such as Dublin or Johannesburg, and it is expected to be deployed on high capacity medium haul routes by the airline. Final assembly and flight test of the 787-10 are set to begin in 2017, with first delivery targeted for 2018. Boeing launched the 787-10 earlier this year, at the Paris Air Show.

All the aircraft in this order will be powered by General Electric GE9X, GEnx and GE90 engines. Etihad ordered 57 GE9X engines which will power Etihad Airways’ 25 new Boeing 777X aircraft, 68 GEnx-1B engines for the airline’s 30 new Boeing 787-10 aircraft, and two GE90-115B engines which will be used on its new Boeing 777-200F freighter.

Etihad Airways currently has 86 aircraft in operation, with more than 80 aircraft on firm order. Its last major aircraft deal was made at the Farnborough Air Show in 2008, where Etihad Airways announced firm orders for 100 aircraft, including 45 Boeing aircraft, in a long-term order which was at the time one of the largest in aviation history.

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Second Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner ZB002 completes successful first flight

By BA Staff

The second Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner completed a successful 4-hour, 18-minute first flight. 

The airplane, known as ZB002, departed Paine Field in Everett, Washington State, USA, at 8:06 and landed at 12:24 local time at Seattle's Boeing Field.

As the only 787-9 test airplane to be fitted with elements of the passenger interior, ZB002 will test systems such as the environmental control system in addition to avionics and other aspects of airplane performance. Boeing has conducted a series of ground tests on the second 787-9 since its completion in late September.

With manufacturing of the 787-9 flight-test fleet complete, the first production 787-9 in final assembly and 137 flight-test hours to date, 787-9 development is on track. 787-10 development also is progressing as planned.

First delivery of the 787-9 to launch customer Air New Zealand is set for mid-2014. Twenty-six customers have ordered 396 787-9s, accounting for 40 percent of all 787 orders.

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Air India to launch 787 on Mumbai - London Heathrow

by BA Staff

National carrier Air India is bringing the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner to its services between its secondary hub at Mumbai and London Heathrow International Airport from 30th March, 2014. Schedules for the flight are as follow

AI131 ~ BOM - LHR ~ D: 0630 A: 1130 ~ 788 ~ Daily

AI130 ~ LHR - BOM ~ D: 1315 A: 0305+1 ~ 788 ~ Daily

Additionally, Bangalore Aviation's sources tell us that new nonstop services between Air India's largest international hub at Delhi and Moscow will soon be loaded into the global distribution system (GDS). Air India already has won approval to launch Delhi-Moscow from the Indian government. 

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Jetstar receives Australia's first Boeing 787 Dreamliner

by BA Staff

Boeing (NYSE: BA) delivered to Jetstar Airways of Australia the carrier's first 787 today, which is also the first Dreamliner for the nation of Australia.

Jetstar Australia Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner VH-VKA

Jetstar, is the Qantas Group's low-cost brand. Like every other airline which has taken delivery of this new type of aircraft, Jetstar too will introduce the 787 Dreamliner first on domestic routes, to ensure its pilots achieve the required number of landings, its cabin and ground crews get familiar with the aircraft, and then move the Dreamliners to its international network. The airline has a total of 14 787 Dreamliners on order and expects to fly an all-787 long-haul fleet by 2015.

Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said

"Today is a historic milestone for the Qantas Group and Jetstar as we welcome the most advanced passenger aircraft ever constructed to the fleet," "In just 10 short years, Jetstar has grown to be the largest low fares carrier in the Asia Pacific, carrying more than 100 million passengers. The 787 will set up the airline for another decade of growth."

The aircraft departed Monday morning local time from Boeing's Everett, Washington state delivery centre for Melbourne, Australia where it will be greeted by airline employees and special guests.

Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Ray Conner said "

We're proud to deliver the revolutionary 787 Dreamliner to our partners at Jetstar," "The 787s unmatched fuel efficiency will give Jetstar an advantage in the marketplace and its passengers will travel with the world's most advanced in-flight experience."

"Jetstar customers will have the chance to fly in a larger and more spacious cabin, enjoy gate to gate in-flight entertainment and arrive at their destination more refreshed thanks to a lower cabin altitude to reduce the impact of jet lag," said Jetstar Group CEO Jayne Hrdlicka. "The entire Jetstar team is very excited to have the 787 take to Australia skies."

Boeing Aerostructures Australia manufactures the movable trailing edge on the wing of every Dreamliner.

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Boeing firms up orders for 43 787s from ALC and GECAS

 By BA Staff

Boeing and Air Lease Corporation (ALC) announced today that they have completed an order for 30 787-10 and three 787-9 Dreamliners. The order, valued at $9.4 billion at list prices, fulfills the commitment originally announced during the 2013 Paris Air Show in June.

ALC Chairman and CEO Steven Udvar-Hazy had this to say about the partnership:

"We are thrilled to be adding 787-10s and additional 787-9s to our portfolio. The performance characteristics of the 787-10 will build on the 787 family's success in the marketplace by providing the ideal size, capabilities and economical operating costs for medium to long-haul markets."

Furthermore, Boeing and GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS), the commercial aircraft leasing and financing arm of General Electric, announced today that they have completed an order for 10 787-10 Dreamliners. The order, valued at $2.9 billion at list prices, completes the commitment originally announced during the 2013 Paris Air Show in June and builds momentum in the airplane leasing market for the 787-10.

GECAS President and CEO Norman C.T. Liu said:

"These airplanes are an excellent addition to our broad portfolio of modern, fuel-efficient aircraft. This order enables us to offer our airline customers an airplane with the lowest operating costs."

The new 787-10, launched in June 2013, will extend and complement the family, carrying 300 to 330 passengers up to 7,000 nautical miles (12,964 km) and accommodating more than 90 percent of the world's twin-aisle routes. The 787-10 also will be 25 percent more fuel-efficient than airplanes of its size today and more than 10 percent better than anything being offered by the competition for the future.

Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Ray Conner described his point of view on the matter:

"As a leader in the leasing industry, GECAS's 787-10 order is a strong statement about the capabilities of this highly efficient airplane. The 787-10 will provide GECAS customers the efficiencies and passenger comforts needed to succeed in an increasingly competitive marketplace."

The 787-10 will feature the 787 family's unique interior. The interior technologies make the passenger experience more enjoyable, including large, dimmable windows; cleaner air; higher humidity; lower cabin altitude; bigger stowage bins; soothing LED lighting and a smoother ride. To date, the 787-10 has accumulated 102 orders and commitments from five customers worldwide.

These 787-10s bring the total number of airplanes GECAS has ordered from Boeing to 598 since 1995, including 737s, 747s, 757s, 767s, 777s and 787s. To date, GECAS has taken delivery of 451 Boeing airplanes.

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Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner successfully completes first flight

by Devesh Agarwal

The second member of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner family, the 787-9 successfully completed its first flight, beginning a comprehensive flight-test program leading to certification and delivery in mid-2014. The aircraft performed a 5-hour, 16-minute flight, taking off from Paine Field in Everett, Washington state, at 11:02 a.m. local time and landing at 4:18 p.m. at Seattle's Boeing Field.

Boeing 787-9, line number ZB001 registration N787EX, takes off for its first flight

The 787-9 has its fuselage stretched by 20 feet (6 meters) over the 787-8 which is flying with many airlines including Air India. The 787-9 will carry 40 more passengers an additional 300 nautical miles (555 kilometres).

787-9 Senior Project Pilot Mike Bryan and 787 Chief Pilot Randy Neville departed to the north. During the flight the reached an altitude of 20,400 feet (6,218 meters) and an airspeed of 250 knots, or about 288 miles (463 kilometers) per hour, customary for a first flight. The two Captains tested the aircraft's systems and structures, while on-board equipment transmitted real-time data to a flight-test team on the ground in Seattle.

Powered by two Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines, the first 787-9 will be joined in flight test by two additional airplanes, one of which will feature General Electric GEnx engines. The additional airplanes are in the final stages of assembly in Boeing's Everett factory.

Boeing says it is on track to deliver the 787-9 to launch customer Air New Zealand in mid-2014. Twenty-five customers from around the world have ordered 388 787-9s, accounting for 40 percent of all 787 orders. National carrier Air India has ordered 27 787-8s only, and no 787-9. Jet Airways has 10 787-8s on order with no purchase options (though it can shift these orders to other Boeing products).

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LAN Peru to eliminate Lima - San Francisco

by BA Staff

Image Credit: JetDriver

South American oneworld member LAN Peru has announced that it is eliminating nonstop service between its hub at Lima, Peru and San Francisco effective 1st April, 2014. LAN inaugurated services to San Francisco just four years ago in 2010.

LATAM Airlines S.A., the parent company of LAN Peru, will continue to serve the California market via 14 flights per week between Lima and Los Angles, as well daily flights between Los Angeles and Santiago. All flights to Los Angeles are served with the carrier’s new fleet of Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners seating 247 passengers in a 2-class configuration (30J / 217Y).

The suspension is not entirely shocking, given that San Francisco is a stronghold for rival Star Alliance, and the California-South America is a notoriously low-yielding market. LAN sent out the following email notifying passengers of the cancellation

LAN Peru, an affiliate of LATAM Airlines Group S.A. (LAN Airlines), announces today that after nearly four years the airline will suspend operations out of San Francisco International Airport effective April 1, 2014. The last flight departing San Francisco to Lima will be on March 29, 2014.

Passengers can still travel to South America with the ease and convenience of oneworld® and partner airlines that offer connecting service to LAN Airlines and its affiliate's gateways of Los Angeles, Miami, New York and Orlando.

LAN Airlines and its affiliates, including LAN Peru will increase flights to 14 frequencies per week between Los Angeles and Lima onboard modern Boeing 787 aircraft. This, along with new and existing code share agreements with oneworld® and airline partners will continue to offer passengers options for easy connections from the West Coast to South America.
Passengers who have already purchased tickets for travel on LAN Peru from San Francisco International Airport for travel after April 1, 2014, may call their preferred travel agency or LAN customer service at 1-866-I-FLY-LAN (1-866-435-9526) to update their travel arrangements.

Best Regards,
LATAM Airlines Group S.A.

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Air India reduces Delhi - Tokyo

by BA Staff

Image Credit: Devesh Agarwal

As per the Airline Route blog, Indian national carrier Air India is reducing Delhi-Tokyo Narita this winter from five flights per week to four utilizing Boeing 777-200LR equipment. The new schedules for the flight are as follow:

AI 306 departs Delhi at 21:10 on Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays ~ arrives to Tokyo Narita at 08:00 the next morning.

AI 307 departs Tokyo at 11:30 on Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays ~ arrives back in Delhi at 16:50 the same day - in time for connections to the evening bank of domestic departures.

Air India had been looking at sending its efficient fleet of Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners to Tokyo, but complications have arisen due to problems with the Japanese government. However, there has been progress towards getting Air India's Dreamliners approved to fly into Japan, and as Air India is set to take delivery of at least two more Dreamliners by the end of 2013, this plan could shift. 

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Ethiopian Airlines reports record profits, stands behind Dreamliner despite fire

Image Credit: Konstantin von Wedelstaedt

by Vinay Bhaskara

African carrier Ethiopian Airlines has announced a record net profit of 2.03 billion birr (US $107.6 million) for the period from July 2012 - June 2013, up 178% from 734 million birr (US $39.2 million)year-over-year (YOY). Operating profitability also rose a healthy 170% YOY to 2.7 billion birr (US $143.1 billion), from 1 billion birr (US $53.0 million). While the carrier has not yet formally released its financial results, CEO Tewolde Gebremariam presented these figures as coming from Ethiopian's un-audited results for the period. The formal announcement of results should come soon.

Interestingly, Gebremariam attributed Ethiopian's profitability in part to the troubled Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners, citing the fuel savings driven by the aircraft's increased fuel efficiency. His comments come just a month and a half after an Ethiopian Dreamliner memorably caught fire at London's Heathrow Airport in early July (an incident later attributed to a Honeywell Emergency Locator Transmitter), and a three month long grounding of the aircraft due to battery issues earlier this year. Gebremariam admitted that the Dreamliners had caused some issues for Ethiopian this past financial year:

Definitely the incidents and grounding have some impact. We were very fortunate that coincidentally the grounding of the planes were in what we call slack season. It's a slow demand season. So were able to minimize the level of the impact.

However, he also said that the carrier has seen a demand boost from the Dreamliners:

Whenever we introduce the aircraft in any route, the load factor immediately increases, which means our customers love the plane, they are enjoying its features

Ethiopian says that it will take delivery of its remaining 8 Dreamliners on order (5 direct orders and 3 leases), bringing the carrier's active fleet of 787-8 Dreamliners to 12 (13 frames on the books but one is currently indisposed at Heathrow Airport). Ethiopian currently operates a fleet of 54 passenger aircraft (with 31 more on order - 14 Airbus A350-900s, 8 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners, 4 Boeing 777-300ERs, and 5 Boeing 737-800s) serving 80 passenger destinations around the globe. Based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopian is a member of the Star Alliance partnership of global airlines, and is one of the world's fastest growing airlines.

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Aircraft News: A380 deliveries to Korean Air and Emirates, 787-9 completes engine test

by BA.com staff

We have a three pieces of aircraft related news for you this Friday morning.

7th A380 delivered to Korean Air

Image Credit: Airbus

Seoul-based Korean Air took delivery of its 7th Airbus A380 earlier this week, with Manufacturer Serial Number (MSN) 126. The aircraft is registered as HL7621 and left Tolouse on 28th August. Korean Air's A380 are noted for having one of the lowest-density and most premium configurations in the sky with just 407 seats in a 3-class configuration (12F / 94J / 301Y).

36th A380 delivered to Emirates

Dubai-based Emirates has taken delivery of its 36th Airbus A380 yesterday, with a MSN of 132. The aircraft has been registered as A6 - EEK. Interestingly, Emirates fleet of Airbus A380s has now surpassed Lufthansa's fleet of Boeing 747s as the world's second largest fleet of double-deck passenger aircraft. Lufthansa now operates 31 Boeing 747s (split as 22x 747-400 and 9x 747-8i), but both carriers still trail behind British Airways' fleet of 55 Boeing 747-400s.

Image Credit: Airbus

Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner Completes First Engine Test

According to Boeing Commercial Airplanes' official Twitter account (@BoeingAirplanes), Boeing and Rolls Royce successfully performed the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner's first engine test yesterday. The 787-9 Dreamliner will be powered by two Trent 1000 engines each delivering more than 320 kilo-Netwons (kN) of thrust.

Image Credit: Boeing (@BoeingAirplanes)

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Maps: Potential United Boeing 787 operations for 2014

by Vinay Bhaskara

Image Credit: United Airlines

With the announcement of thrice weekly San Francisco - Chengdu to commence in June 2014, Chicago-based full service carrier United Airlines has the planned the following long haul routes for its fleet of Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners in 2014.

San Francisco - Chengdu --> 3x weekly
San Francisco - Osaka Kansai --> Daily
Seattle - Tokyo Narita --> Daily
Denver - Tokyo Narita --> Daily
Los Angeles - Tokyo Narita --> Daily
Los Angeles - Shanghai Pudong --> Daily
Houston - Lagos --> 5x weekly

Now in order to properly rotate aircraft from the 787-8's current base at Houston, it would also make sense for United to operate daily Houston-Denver and Houston-San Francisco flights domestically using the 787. Such an operation would fully utilize United's planned fleet of 11 Boeing 787-8s with frame utilization as follows:

1 frame - San Francisco - Chengdu
1 frame - Seattle - Tokyo Narita
1 frame - San Francisco - Osaka Kansai
3 frames - Los Angeles - Tokyo Narita and Los Angeles - Shanghai Pudong (a Houston flight can be added here as well to improve utilization)
2 frames - Houston - Denver and Denver - Tokyo Narita
2 frames - Houston - San Francisco and Houston Lagos
1 frame - Spare

The 787 will be primarily used as a trans-Pacific aircraft in 2014, with six of seven long haul routes focused on Trans-Pacific flights; all from the Western United States. The maps below outline the planned (and proposed domestic) 787 routes for United in 2014. It appears that the 787 has already begun to fulfill its promised role of expanding US-Asia air links as the 767 did on trans-Atlantic flights.

Trans-Pacific

Other

Maps generated by the Great Circle Mapper - copyright © Karl L. Swartz.

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United Airlines applies for San Francisco - Chengdu

by BA staff

A United 787 Dreamliner - Image Credit: United Airlines

Chicago-based full service carrier United Airlines announced today that it has applied with the US Department of Transportation (DOT) for the authority to serve San Francisco - Chengdu, China nonstop from 9th June, 2014.

The proposed flights to Chengdu, China's fourth largest city and home to China's fifth busiest airport by passenger traffic, would be served three times per week using Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner equipment. Subject to government approval, the proposed schedule for the flights is as follows. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, flights will depart San Francisco at 1:35 pm, arriving in Chengdu the following day at 6:50 pm the following day. The return flights from Chengdu will depart at 10:00 am on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, arriving back in San Francisco at 8:50 am the same day, in time for connections throughout the United States.

Chengdu becomes the eighth trans-Pacific destination served by United at San Francisco - already the single largest US carrier trans-Pacific gateway. Chengdu and San Francisco have strong business links owing to Chengdu's status as China's electronics manufacturing hub, and San Francisco's status as the world's largest technology business hub through nearby Silicon Valley. Chengdu also offers United the potential for connections throughout Central, Southern, and Western China via Star Alliance partner Air China, for whom Chengdu is the second largest hub. 

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Xiamen Airlines finalizes orders for 6 787 Dreamliners

Chinese full service carrier Xiamen Airlines has finalized an order for six Boeing 787 Dreamliners that was initially announced in May of 2011. Find more details below.

Image Credit: Boeing

26th August 2013

Boeing (NYSE: BA) and Xiamen Airlines have finalized an order for six 787-8s. Originally announced by Xiamen Airlines in May 2011, the order is valued at $1.3 billion at list prices. 

"Adding 787s to our all-Boeing fleet is a strategic decision to facilitate our international expansion plans," said Che Shanglun, president and CEO of Xiamen Airlines. "The range and efficiency of the 787 makes it an ideal fit in our new, non-stop international routes."

As China's only all-Boeing fleet carrier, Xiamen Airlines has earned a profit for 27 consecutive years, one of the most consistently successful financial performances in the industry.

"Xiamen Airlines has been a dedicated operator of Boeing airplanes since it was established. We are honored to have earned the trust and confidence that such a longstanding partnership requires," said Ihssane Mounir, vice president of Sales for Northeast Asia, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "I believe the 787s will further strengthen Xiamen Airlines' network, providing their customers more travel options."

The airline's expanding international network currently focuses on southeast and northeast Asia. With the introduction of the 787 Dreamliners beginning in 2014, the airline plans to launch new long-haul routes from Fujian to Europe, North America and Australia. 

Xiamen Airlines currently operates a fleet of 97 airplanes, including 17 737-700s, 74 737-800s and six 757-200s. The flight network is comprised of 218 domestic routes and 26 international and regional routes.  The airline will take delivery of its 100th Boeing airplane in November 2013. 

Founded in 1984, Xiamen Airlines is headquartered in the coastal city of Xiamen in the province of Fujian. The area boasts a thriving and diverse industrial economy as well as a growing tourism market. 

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PHOTOS: Boeing rolls out the first 787-9 Dreamliner

Image Credit: Boeing

Boeing has completed the first 787-9 Dreamliner and rolled it out of the factory today to the flight line in preparation of the first flight. Find more details below.

24th August 2013

EVERETT, Wash., Aug. 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] has completed the first 787-9 Dreamliner. The second member of the super-efficient 787 family rolled out of the Everett, Wash., factory today to the flight line, where teams are preparing it to fly later this summer.

At 20 feet (6 m) longer than the 787-8, the 787-9 will extend the 787 family in both capacity and range, carrying 40 more passengers an additional 300 nautical miles (555 km). The 787-9 leverages the visionary design of the 787-8 such as its exceptional environmental performance — 20 percent less fuel use and 20 percent fewer emissions than similarly sized airplanes — and passenger-pleasing features.

With the second and third airplanes in final assembly, Boeing and the 787-9 are on track. First delivery to launch customer Air New Zealand is set for mid-2014.

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Japan 'bans' Air India's Dreamliners

Japanese government irritated by Air India's inefficiency

by Devesh Agarwal

About three weeks ago I wrote debunking the myth being created by the Air India management and their political bosses about the fuel efficient Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft being the saviour of the beleaguered national carrier. Read the Op-Ed piece here.

In June no less than the Indian civil aviation minister, Ajit Singh, announced that Air India would soon operate the Dreamliner to Japan. Very logical. The Japanese are the largest operators of the 787 Dreamliner in the world with both their major airlines, All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines being the launch and second customer of this aircraft. Japan Airlines was the first airline to bring the Dreamliner to India on regular commercial service.

And yet, Air India is unable to fly its Dreamliners to either of its Japanese destinations of Tokyo or Osaka.

Why? you ask. Simple. The wonderfully efficient Air India has failed to provide the Japanese civil aviation authorities with information they required about the modifications carried out on its Dreamliners post the battery fiasco that grounded all Dreamliners globally. Failing to receive a response to their numerous reminders, the Japanese are refusing to give Air India permission to operate the Dreamliner till they receive the information.

Sources inside the airline have told media, so irritated are the Japanese with Air India's sloth and unresponsive attitude, they have stopped interacting with the airline and are instead routing their communications through India's civil aviation regulator, the DGCA, another bastion of speedy operations.

Quite obviously the airline has no comment.

But your comments are always welcome.

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Qatar Airways confirms Dreamliner debut in India

by Vinay Bhaskara

Qatar Airways Boeing 787 Dreamliner - Image Credit: Qatar Airways

MEB3 carrier Qatar Airways has provided confirmation of the plans to bring its Boeing 787 Dreamliner to India via the Doha-Delhi and Doha-Bangalore sectors from September 1st. Bangalore Aviation had previously reported on the new aircraft placement via a report from Airline Route.

Qatar Airways Dreamliners are configured with 254 seats with 22 flatbed business class seats in a 1-2-1 configuration and 232 economy class seats in a tight 9-abreast 3-3-3 configuration. Both routes are served daily as red-eyes. Qatar Airways becomes the second carrier from the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa) to operate the 787 to India after Star Alliance member Ethiopian Airlines.

Qatar Airways' introduction of the Dreamliner is a smart strategic move in advance of the massive expansion of fellow MEB3 carrier Etihad's Indian operation via the yet to be approved Jetihad partnership.

Find more details in the press release below.

19th August 2013

QATAR AIRWAYS’ DREAMLINER DEBUTS IN INDIA

Airline Introduces the 787 Dreamliner service on Delhi and Bangalore routes

19th August 2013

Mumbai, INDIA – Qatar Airways has announced plans to extend its Boeing 787 Dreamliner route network to India with the launch of services to and from Delhi and Bangalore starting September 01, 2013. The introduction of the state-of-the-art Dreamliner service promises the airlines’ passengers with an unparalleled level of service, comfort and travel experience.

Commenting on the occasion, Henry Moses, Qatar Airways Country Manager, India, said “In line with our commitment to offer our passengers the most exceptional travel experience, we are delighted to introduce Qatar Airways’ Dreamliner on two of our important Indian routes. The introduction of our Dreamliner service provides our passengers with an unbeatable level of service and comfort besides reiterating our firm belief in the 787s unrivalled capabilities and the value it will add to Qatar Airways’ plans to continue delivering on its promise of quality.”

“Our 787s provide a game-changing experience with specially designed interiors, spacious cabins and custom-made seats in both Business and Economy Class. We are confident that our patrons flying to and from Delhi and Bangalore routes will luxuriate in the enhanced travel experience on-board the Qatar Airways’ Dreamliner,” Moses added.

Qatar Airways has 254 custom-made seats across its 787 Business and Economy Class cabins with specially designed interiors. Business Class is configured 1–2–1 with 22 seats, while Economy has a 232 seating capacity in a 3–3–3 layout. All seats in Business Class are fully reclinable.

The airline’s 787s are the world’s first fully connected Dreamliners with wireless facilities for passengers to remain in touch with friends and colleagues on the ground through the internet and SMS mobile texting across both Business and Economy cabins. The 787 Dreamliners complement the ultra-luxurious customer service and experience Qatar Airways promises to its passengers.

India remains to be a key market for Qatar Airways having an extensive route network offering 95 passenger flights non-stop each week from 12 gateway cities to Doha. Currently, Indian operations cover daily services to Doha from Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Goa, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Kozhikode, Trivandrum, Chennai and Bangalore, together with 11-flights-a-week from Cochin and double daily flights from Delhi.

Flights from India connect via Doha to popular cities in Qatar Airways’ global network including London, New York, Montreal, Washington, Dubai, Nairobi, Paris, Frankfurt and Oslo.

Qatar Airways, the national airline of the State of Qatar has taken delivery of eight of its 60 Dreamliners and has been flying the aircraft from Doha to Dubai, London, Munich, Stockholm, Riyadh, Jeddah, Zurich and Frankfurt. The airline will also be flying the Dreamliner to Oslo and Copenhagen from September.

Qatar Airways has seen rapid growth in just 16 years of operations, currently flying a modern fleet of 129 aircraft to 128 key business and leisure destinations worldwide.

Qatar Airways has so far launched six destinations this year – Gassim (Saudi Arabia), Najaf (Iraq), Phnom Penh (Cambodia), Chicago (USA), Salalah (Oman) and Basra (Iraq).  Over the next few weeks and months, the network will grow further with Sulaymaniyah, Iraq (August 20), Chengdu, China (September 3) and the newly-announced routes of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (September 18), Clark International Airport, Philippines (October 28) and Philadelphia, USA (2 April 2014).

QATAR AIRWAYS’ BOEING 787 INDIAN ROUTES SCHEDULES

Delhi

DOHA – DELHI (Daily)
Depart Doha on QR232 at 2100hrs, arrive in Delhi at 0325hrs (next day)

DELHI – DOHA (Daily)
Depart Delhi on QR233 at 0450hrs, arrive in Doha at 0630hrs

Bangalore

DOHA – BANGALORE (Daily)
Depart Doha on QR226 at 2020hrs, arrive in Bangalore at 0310hrs (next day)

BANGALORE – DOHA (Daily)
Depart Bangalore on QR227 at 0440hrs, arrive in Doha at 0625hrs

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Qatar Airways bringing its 787 Dreamliner to Bangalore and New Delhi

AirlineRoute is reporting

As per 10AUG13 GDS timetable/inventory display, QATAR Airways plans to operate Boeing 787 aircraft on flights to Bangalore and Delhi, during the month of September 2013. Planned operation as follow.

Doha – Bangalore 01SEP13 – 29SEP13 1 daily (BLR departure 02SEP13 – 30SEP13)
QR226 DOH 2020 – 0310+1 BLR 788 Daily
QR227 BLR 0440 – 0625 DOH 788 Daily

Doha – Delhi 01SEP13 – 29SEP13 QR232/233 1 daily (DEL departure 02SEP13 – 30SEP13)
QR232 DOH 2100 – 0325+1 DEL 788 Daily
QR233 DEL 0450 – 0630 DOH 788 Daily

Pity we plane spotters will not be able to photograph this bird at night.

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Video: Air India inaugural flight on Delhi Birmingham route

On August 1, Air India brought the first Boeing 787 Dreamliner to Birmingham airport when flight VT-AND performed AI113 from Delhi.

The videos below highlight the events surrounding the Air India inaugural flight on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner from Delhi to Birmingham last week. While the addition of the new route and the Dreamliner to Air India's fleet are both positive steps, these steps alone are not enough to resurrect Air India.

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