Boeing Delivers 50th 787 Dreamliner To All Nippon Airways

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 19 (Bernama) -- Boeing delivered All Nippon Airways' (ANA) 50th 787 Dreamliner at a ceremony held at Boeing's Everett Delivery Center on Thursday. The milestone marked yet another record for ANA to become the world's first airline to operate 50 787 Dreamliners. "The 787 Dreamliner has played a significant role in opening up new routes into new markets, while also forming the backbone of our long-haul fleet. "As the launch customer of the 787 Dreamliner family, we are proud to welcome the 50th 787 Dreamliner into our fleet, where it will continue to serve our passengers with the most innovative and memorable flying experience," ANA President/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Osamu Shinobe said in a statement. As part of efforts to expand its global network, ANA also announced plans to launch new routes from Tokyo in Narita to Phnom Penh in Cambodia in September and to Mexico City, Mexico, in February 2017, using 787 Dreamliners. ANA became the launch customer of the 787 when it purchased 50 aircraft in 2004 and was the first to bring the airplane into service in 2011. The airline currently operates more than 11 per cent of all 787s around the world and has flown an estimated 125,000 flights with the Dreamliner. "As the launch customer of the 787 and our largest 787 customer, we are honoured to celebrate this important milestone with ANA. "ANA is a valued Boeing customer and has been a vital partner on this programme. "This demonstrates the strength of our enduring relationship and we look forward to introducing the 787-10 to ANA in the coming years to complete the entire family of 787 Dreamliners in their fleet," Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Ray Conner said. Already the world's largest Dreamliner operator, ANA has an additional 33 787s in Boeing's order book, including the longest and newest member of the family, the 787-10. The airline also has 20 777-9 airplanes on order. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is an all-new, super-efficient family of airplanes that brings the speed and range of big jets to the middle of the market. --BERNAMA