News
Japan Airlines announces route for 787 Dreamliner
Dec. 8, 2011, Tokyo, Japan - Japan Airlines Co. on Thursday announced routes for the Boeing 787 planes it expects to start receiving next year.
December 8, 2011 By Carey Fredericks
The company said it will use the new aircraft for several international destinations with "medium-sized demand and a high percentage of business travellers." The routes announced by President Masaru Onishi are Narita International Airport to New Delhi, Narita to Moscow, and Tokyo's Haneda Airport to Beijing.
The airline previously announced that it would use the 787 on a new nonstop Narita to Boston route beginning April 22. The flight will be the first direct connection between Boston and Asia, JAL said.
The 787 relies heavily on lightweight carbon composites and promises to be 20 per cent more fuel-efficient than comparable aircraft.
Boeing also says the 787 is a major upgrade for travellers. It was designed with larger windows, bigger overhead bin space and improved lighting. The jet was also designed to provide air pressure
and humidity levels that more closely resemble those on the ground, a feature intended to ease jet lag.
The airline, known as JAL, said the in-flight entertainment system for its 787s will include electronic manga, or Japanese comics. The carrier is collaborating with major publisher Shogakukan Inc. and eBook Initiative Japan Co. on the service.
The comics will initially be available only in Japanese, JAL said. But it plans to add English versions in the future.
Rival All Nippon Airways Co. was the 787's first customer, and its inaugural commercial flight came in October after a delay of more than three years.
JAL has ordered 35 787s, according to Boeing.
JAL is a member of the oneworld alliance and has a close partnership with American Airlines, whose parent company AMR Corp. recently filed for bankruptcy protection.
