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BY OUR AVIATION CORRESPONDENT May 9,
2005: Northwest Airlines Inc has placed an
order for 68 Boeing 787 Dreamliners to be used to
boost operating efficiencies on its long-haul
routes, making it the first carrier in North
America to operate 787 in revenue service.
The order includes firm purchases of eighteen
787-8s valued at $2.2 billion at list prices, plus
options and purchase rights for 50 additional
Dreamliners.
With the initial delivery slated to take place in
August 2008, Boeing intends to deliver six
airplanes to Northwest Airlines each in 2008, 2009
and 2010.
"The Boeing 787 provides Northwest Airlines with a
new-generation, long-range aircraft that will
allow us to tailor our growing international route
system to best address our customers’ travel
needs," said Northwest Airlines President and
Chief Executive Officer Doug Steenland said.
According to Boeing (Commercial Airplanes)
President and Chief Executive Officer Alan Mulally,
“the 787’s size, range, speed and operating
economics make it a perfect match for Northwest’s
routes and fleet plans”.
The Dreamliner uses 20 per cent less fuel than
most comparable airplanes, provide with up to 45
per cent more cargo revenue capacity and has a new
interior environment with higher humidity, wider
seats and aisles, larger windows and other
conveniences.
The production of the aircraft would begin in
2006, and the first flight is expected to be in
2007, with certification, delivery and entry into
service in 2008.
The 787 is a family of airplanes in the 200- to
300-seat class that will carry passengers on
routes between 3,500 and 8,500 nautical miles
(6,500 to 16,000 km). In addition to bringing
big-jet ranges to mid-size airplanes, the 787 will
fly at Mach 0.85, as fast as fastest commercial
airplanes, while using much less fuel.
Northwest also becomes a member of the 787 `Launch
Team’ that now includes 20 airlines from around
the world. Orders and commitments for the 787
since its launch last year total 255.
BY OUR AVIATION CORRESPONDENT |
