Boeing Will Deliver First 787-9 To ANZ In 2010

Boeing has announced it will deliver the first 787-9 Dreamliner to Air New Zealand in December 2010. Boeing and ANZ, along with engine-maker Rolls-Royce, held a ceremonial signing Thursday in which ANZ converted its original order for four 787-8 airplanes to four 787-9s.

"Being the first airline to introduce the 787-9 aircraft will enable Air New Zealand to provide a superior, first-to-market experience for our customers and is a most desirable position for us to be in given the unprecedented sales success of the Boeing 787 model," said Air New Zealand Chief Executive Officer Rob Fyfe.

The 787-9 is capable of carrying 250-290 passengers on routes of 8,600 to 8,800 nautical miles (15,900-16,300 kilometers). ANZ selected the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engine to power its 787-9s.

"The 787-9 has unprecedented fuel efficiency and economics, which make it an ideal choice for ANZ," said Roland Ramirez, Boeing Commercial Airplanes Sales director, Asia Pacific region. "The -9 has all the right attributes to serve ANZ profitably and provide its passengers with a new flying experience."

The 787-9 is a slightly bigger version of the 787-8 and has a list price of $183 million. Both aircraft variants -- as well as the smaller 787-3 -- will offer a new interior environment with higher humidity, wider seats and aisles, and larger windows. Boeing says the 787 will use 20 percent less fuel than any other airplane of its size.

Since the launch of the 787 program in April 2004, the program has booked 393 orders and commitments from 29 customers. Boeing reports 350 of those are firm orders, worth roughly $52 billion at current list prices -- which makes the 787 the most successful new airplane in Boeing history.

As Aero-News reported in 2004, All Nippon Airways is the launch customer for the 787-3 and 787-8 aircraft. The carrier's 50 aircraft order -- with the first delivery set for 2008 -- is the largest launch order Boeing has ever received.

FMI: www.boeing.com, www.airnewzealand.com