Entry Into Service Expected Later This Year
United Airlines, the North American launch customer for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, has announced details about its induction of the aircraft into the company's fleet and revealing a specially-designed livery for the aircraft.
United is scheduled to take delivery of its first Dreamliner in late September. The aircraft cabin is being installed on the first aircraft, and will be configured with 36 seats in United BusinessFirst, 72 seats in United Economy Plus and 111 seats in United Economy. Cabin color selections use a palette of blue and grey and are consistent with other modern United aircraft. Customers will experience greater comfort with improved lighting, bigger windows, larger overhead bins, lower cabin altitude and enhanced ventilation systems, among other passenger-friendly features. The 787's inflight entertainment system features an all-new design that offers more intuitive browsing and more filtering options, giving customers the option of searching for programs by language.
The airline's 787 fleet will feature a customized livery that is exclusive to the fleet: the gold line that wraps the fuselage will swoop from nose to tail. The swoop is inspired by the trademark swoop painted on each of Boeing's aircraft and is being adopted for the United 787 in a tribute to the two companies' long history of working together.
United has been the launch customer for more than a dozen Boeing aircraft models, and was the first airline to operate the 767 and 777 aircraft. This tradition continues with United being the North America launch customer of the 787.
In preparation for delivery of the first United Dreamliner, United installed a full-flight simulator at its Houston hub and is training pilots on operation of the aircraft. Flight attendants and mechanics have trained in 787 systems and operations, with additional training scheduled to continue through the remainder of the year. In addition, United is preparing to provide 787 maintenance support from its Houston base, and the airline is warehousing more than 1,180 different spare parts for easy and rapid access by its technicians.
Following delivery of the first aircraft in September, the company will conduct a variety of tests and training, including completing Federal Aviation Administration conformity checks and proving runs. The company will then enter the 787 into scheduled service in the fall. United is planning to place five Boeing 787s into service in 2012, and has firm orders for a total of 50 new Dreamliners, with deliveries scheduled through 2019.
(Image provided by Boeing)
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