The first Boeing 787 Dreamliner for United Continental Holdings has entered the assembly phase at Boeing’s facility in Everett, Wash., today.
From the official news release:
In early 2012, United will be the first North American carrier to take delivery of the aircraft, marking the first of 50 Dreamliners for the airline.
During assembly, Boeing will join the forward, center and aft fuselage sections, the wings, the horizontal stabilizer and the vertical fin.
The first United 787 will be configured with 36 flat-bed seats in BusinessFirst, 63 extra-legroom seats in Economy Plus and 120 seats in Economy. The aircraft’s revolutionary cabin environment and aerodynamic design allow it to fly farther, faster and more efficiently. Customers will experience improved lighting, bigger windows, larger overhead bins, increased cabin humidity, reduced cabin pressure and enhanced ventilation systems, among other passenger-friendly features.
“We are proud to be the first North American airline to receive the 787, which will be a game changer for the new United and the industry,” United Airlines President and CEO Jeff Smisek said in a news release. “The 787 will be a very comfortable, customer pleasing aircraft, and with its range, fuel efficiency and superb operating economics, the 787 will allow us to enter new long-haul markets and also replace older, less-efficient widebody aircraft.”
