Singapore Airlines, on March 26 received first 787-10 Dreamliner of the 49 units it ordered.
The delivery made Singapore Airlines the world’s first to operate the largest member of Boeing’s Dreamliner family.
The 787-10, which is built at Boeing’s North Charleston, South Carolina, facility, was delivered to the airline, which plans to put the aircraft into service beginning in May.
Singapore Airline via its low-cost carrier unit, Scoot Tigerair Pte Ltd already flies the 787-8 and 787-9 in the Dreamliner family.
Singapore Airlines chief executive officer Goh Choon Phong announced the airline is now the first in the world to operate all three Dreamliner models.
The latest plane sets a new global standard for fuel efficiency. “The 787-10 will be an important element in our overall growth strategy, enabling us to expand our network and strengthen our operations,” he said in a statement yesterday.
The airline plans to deploy its 787-10s into scheduled service in May, with flights from Singapore to Osaka, Japan and Perth, Australia.
Prior to the introduction of these services, the airline said the aircraft will be operated on selected flights to Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur for crew training purposes.
Goh added that the 787-10 underscores the airline’s longstanding commitment to operate a modern fleet, marking the start of a new chapter in its shared story with Boeing.
About 3,000 people marked the milestone at Boeing’s facility in North Charleston, South Carolina, where the latest 787 model is manufactured.
Singapore Airlines has 68 additional Boeing wide-body jets on order, including 48 additional 787-10s, and 20 of the new 777-9s.
In short, herewith are quick facts about this newborn in Boeing family:
1. Boeing said the 787-10 is designed with strong, lightweight composites, advanced systems and comfortable cabin, featuring a longer fuselage which allows it to carry about 40 more passengers or a total of 330 seats in a standard two-class configuration.
2. The American aircraft manufacturer noted the additional capacity of the 787-10 provides airlines the lowest operating cost per seat of any wide-body airplane in service today.
3. At an average cost of $325.8 million, the price tag for one of Boeing’s 787-10s is quite heftier than the 787-9, which costs $281.6 million.
4. In terms of length, it stretching 224 feet, the longest version in the aircraft’s family. In comparison, the aircraft’s main competitor, the Airbus A350-1000, measures up at 242 feet and can seat 366 in a typical configuration.
5. While the aircraft can hold more passengers and cargo than previous incarnations of the long-haul twinjet, its range is impacted due to the extra weight. Compared to the 787-9, which could travel nearly 8,800 miles, the latest Dreamliner has a maximum range of 7,400 miles. Its Airbus rival can travel nearly 9,200 miles.
6. Boeing says its new Dreamliner is around 25% more fuel efficient than the airplanes being replaced and will “set a new global standard for fuel efficiency.” With the increased capacity, the Chicago-based plane maker said the aircraft will have the lowest operating cost per seat of any widebody airplane currently in service.
What are you waiting for? Catch the flights to feel and enjoy the new experience with this new Boeing baby.
Source : New Straits Times & Fox Business
