British Airways has secured a deal worth £2.2 billion a total of 24 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, including additional options and purchase rights for almost twice that amount in the future. BA has refrained from announcing the aircraft dlivery date; however the 787 Dreamliner will not commence passenger services for any airline until May 2008.
It is claimed by Boeing that the 787 Dreamliner, which is 25% British-made and powered by Rolls-Royce engines, will use 20% less fuel per passenger than similar sized aircrafts and will produce fewer carbon emissions as well as having quieter take-offs and landings. BA’s deal will ensure that the total number of 787s ordered worldwide rises from 766 to 790, taking it past the landmark 787 amount. British Airways chief executive Willie Walsh said:
"The 787 is a fantastic aircraft and will be a welcome addition to our fleet. It will provide major environmental improvements in terms of global emissions, local air quality and noise. ..With lower operating costs and the range to fly to all our destinations, it will give us more flexibility when planning our route network and we are confident that our customers will enjoy flying on the aircraft.”
Thomsonfly commercial director, Guy Stephenson previously stated that the new 787 could change the face of long-haul travel by enabling Thomson Holidays to offer holidays in distant destinations without the need to touch down and re-fuel, “This new aircraft will open up a world of destinations that can be accessed by a single flight from the UK”. Because of the similarities between the 787 and British Airway’s 777, it is expected that 777 pilots will only need 5 days training to gain 787 certification.
