American Airlines introduced its first Boeing 787-8 between its Dallas/Fort Worth and Chicago O’Hare hubs today, the latest in a string of new aircraft types at the US mainline carrier.
Flight AA2320, the Fort Worth, Texas-based Oneworld Alliance carrier’s first revenue Dreamliner flight, departed Dallas/Fort Worth International airport at 07:31 local time bound for Chicago O’Hare International airport with a water cannon send off.
The 787 operating the first flight (registration N801AC and MSN 40619) is one of five that American has taken delivery of since January. It was delivered in February.
“This is really is just another testament to what American is becoming,” says Fern Fernandez, vice-president of global marketing at American, ahead of departure at the gate in Dallas. “The 787 represents the transformation that’s happening at American…the fact that we have the youngest fleet in the industry right now and we’re taking two new airplanes a week this year.”
The airline anticipates having 13 787-8s in its fleet by the end of 2015, many of which will replace older Boeing 767-200ERs and 767-300ERs that are being retired. It plans to remove 13 767s this year.
“American is now the first carrier to take delivery of all of Boeing’s jets that have ever been built, from the 707 all the way to the 787,” says Al Smolinski, sales director for the Americas at Boeing Commercial Airplanes, at the event.
The 787 introduction is the latest in a string of new aircraft types for American. The carrier’s legacy operation, including regional, has introduced the Bombardier CRJ900 in August 2014, the Airbus A321 in January 2014, the Airbus A319 in September 2013, the Embraer 175 in August 2013 and the Boeing 777-300ER in January 2013.
“It’s a phenomenal fleet renewal programme,” says Fernandez.
American will add 787 international service in June. The aircraft will replace a Boeing 777-200 on flights from Dallas/Fort Worth to Beijing on 2 June, to Buenos Aires on 4 June and to Shanghai Pudong on 26 June.
The 787 will take over the carrier’s flights between Chicago O’Hare and Tokyo Narita on 19 August.
“It’s just a perfect airplane for the type of rotation that we do here in Dallas between Asia and South America,” says Fernandez.
American has outfitted its 787s with 226 seats, including 28 lie-flat business class seats, 57 extra legroom economy seats and 141 economy seats. This compares to the 260 seats on its 777-200s and 209 seats on its 767-300ERs.
American is the second US carrier after United Airlines and fourth in North America after Aeromexico and Air Canada to operate the 787.
The airline has firm orders for 16 more 787-8s and 21 787-9s with deliveries through 2018, the Ascend Fleets database shows. It has options for another 58 aircraft.
The atmosphere was jovial on the inaugural flight to Chicago, as the majority of passengers were onboard primarily to experience the aircraft, rather than to get to the Windy City. Passengers milled about during the flight, checking out the premium cabin and new features on the Dreamliner.
AA2320 arrived 4min early at 09:23 local time in Chicago.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
