New Boston-Japan Non-Stop "Dreamliner" Showcased At Logan
BOSTON (CBS) - A new era of aviation took place in Boston on Sunday as Boeing's newest aircraft, the 787 Dreamliner, came to Boston on its world tour.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Kim Tunnicliffe reports.
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The Dreamliner is expected to begin making the 13-hour flight from Boston to Tokyo starting on April 22.
It will mark the first non-stop flight from Logan Airport to Asia. Japan Airlines will be flying the aircraft with their oneworld partner, American Airlines. JetBlue has also announced an agreement with JAL to bring passengers through Boston to connect to the Tokyo flights.
One thousand people were expected in a four-hour period to walk through the aircraft that was parked in the Delta Hanger.
The Dreamliner will depart on Monday morning for Newark Airport, where United Airlines will host an event for its corporate customers on Tuesday.
Massport Aviation Director Ed Freni termed the Boeing 787 as the perfect aircraft for international flights from Logan. Hiroyuki Hioka, Japan Airlines senior vice president for the Americas, praised its partnership with American Airlines for bringing the new flights to Logan.
At a morning press conference, Mr. Hioka expressed confidence that Japan Airlines would take delivery of its first 787 aircraft in late March, just in time for that plane to begin its Boston flights.
Sixty decals on the jet represent the airlines that have placed orders to date.
The configuration of the Dreamliner will have 42 business class seats and 144 seats in economy for a total passenger load of 186, plus the crew.
The interior of the plane has soft lighting and colors with overhead luggage bins that are three times larger than older aircraft. The plane has two aisles in economy class with nine seats across.
The windows are the largest of any of today's airplanes. The plane is equipped with electro-chromatic window shading that gives passengers the ability to dim the windows and still see the passing terrain. New equipment means better air quality in the cabin.
Most important is the size of the aircraft and the fact that it is 20 percent more fuel efficient, opening up more international destinations.
Japan Airlines Vice President of Sales, Steve Smith, termed advance bookings "satisfactory" as spring approaches.
Bob Weiss reports on business travel on Mondays at 5:55 a.m. on WBZ NewsRadio 1030.
