Highly Anticipated Boeing 787 Dreamliner Makes Its Way To Tri-State Area
By Bob Weiss, CBSBoston.com
BOSTON -- Boeing's Dreamliner tour of its new aircraft moved from Boston to New York on Monday.
The aircraft manufacturer's world tour made its first U.S. stop in Boston to promote the new Japan Airline non-stop flights from Logan Airport to Tokyo beginning on April 22.
In Boston, both American Airlines and jetBlue Airways will be bringing passengers from domestic destinations to connect to the direct flight to Tokyo. The new international service will be the first direct flight from Boston to Asia which will take 13 hours.
The Dreamliner will be at Newark's Liberty Airport for an invitation-only United Airlines reception on Tuesday evening. United has placed orders for the new aircraft that will provide more options for its New Jersey hub.
United took its final step with its merger with Continental Airlines over the weekend when their reservations systems were merged. Fewer delays were experienced yesterday than on Saturday.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is the first new airplane of the 21st century. Smaller in size, it can be configured with two or three classes of service with a capacity of about 250 passengers.
The 787 uses about 20 percent less fuel than former Boeing aircraft of its size. This is made possible by composite lighter materials and next generation engines built by General Electric or Rolls Royce.
The passenger experience is also more pleasant. The Dreamliner has larger windows that can be dimmed. Its overhead bins are three times larger than older aircraft along with a higher ceiling and LED lighting.
Flying over neighborhoods, the 787 engines will be quieter and will have 20 percent lower CO2 emissions.
The Dreamliner's next stop after New York will be Mexico City later in the week.
Bob Weiss writes "All Things Travel" for CBSBoston.com.
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