Chilean carrier LAN Airlines has become the first airline in the Americas and fourth in the world to take delivery of a 787 Dreamliner aircraft from Boeing.
LAN had placed an order of $4.9bn for 32 new aircraft, with the first three due to be delivered by the end of the year.
The handover ceremony of the first 787 Dreamliner took place at the Boeing 787 production line in Everett, Washington, US.
LAN Airlines chief executive officer Ignacio Cueto said that the Dreamliner would make it possible to cover greater distances in an environmentally conscious and efficient aircraft, which will help ensure sustainable growth.
The Chilean company has not announced the date of launching the service, but the fleet aircraft will serve cities including Santiago, Buenos Aires, Lima, Los Angeles, Madrid, and Frankfurt in the first year of operation.
The Dreamliner, which will take up commercial flights in a few months, is configured with 217 seats in coach and 30 seats in the Premium Business section.
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By GlobalDataBoeing’s 787 Dreamliner features Rolls-Royce’s Trent 1000 engine, auto-dimming windows, high-definition screens with the latest touch technology, new air humidification techniques and aerodynamic enhancements that reduce the impact felt by passengers due to turbulence.
Some of the environmental benefits offered by the aircraft include up to 20% reduction of CO2 emissions and 40% less noise over other similar aeroplanes during take-off.
About 50% of the aircraft structure is made of carbon fibre composite material, which is resistant to fatigue and corrosion.
Japanese airline company All Nippon Airways was the world’s first airline to take delivery of the Dreamliner and inaugurated the service in October 2011, followed by Japan Airlines in April 2012 and Ethiopian Airlines in August 2012.
Image: LAN’s 787 Dreamliner aircraft will take up commercial flying in the next few months. Photo: courtesy of Boeing.
