The first UK-operated Boeing 787 touched down today in Manchester airport at 11:00 local on runway 23R following its ferry flight from Seattle.
To enter service in July, the Thomson Airways jet is the first of four Dreamliners due to arrive at the leisure carrier this year.
Thomson will fly the 787-8 on routes from London Gatwick, Manchester, East Midlands and Glasgow airports, to long-haul destinations Sanford, Florida and Cancun in Mexico, starting from 8 July. It will add a direct service to Phuket in Thailand later in the year and from 2014 will introduce flights to Mauritius and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
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Thomson Airways |
Chris Browne, managing director of Thomson Airways says: "After much anticipation we are very excited to welcome the 787 Dreamliner to our fleet and as the first airline in the UK to take delivery we hope our customers will enjoy the unique experience of this revolutionary aircraft."
Thomson's 787 will carry 291 passengers in a two-class layout, with 47 "Premium Club" seats and 244 in the economy cabin.
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Thomson Airways |
The airline has a total of eight General Electric GEnx-powered Dreamliners on order with deliveries running through until May 2015. Parent company TUI Travel has commitments for an additional five of the type.
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Thomson Airways |
Thomson had been due to receive its initial example earlier this year, launching services in May, but this was delayed by the worldwide grounding of the 787.
Fellow UK operators Virgin Atlantic and British Airways also have 787s on order.
Source: Flight International
