Thursday, October 27, 2011

Will the US West Coast see ANA 787's?

All Nippon Airways (ANA) is examining the US West Coast as a potential destination for its new Boeing 787 routes.

The Japanese carrier, which began 787 services Oct. 26 with an inaugural flight to Tokyo Narita (NRT)-Hong Kong (HKG) wants to expand its European and North American network with the 787.

ANA has received two of the 55 787s it has on order. A total of 20 aircraft are scheduled to be delivered by the end of the airline’s 2012 fiscal year on March 31, 2013.

“The 787 is said to be a game changer and it will allow us to expand our network,” ANA president and CEO Shinichiro Ito said.

ANA’s first scheduled international 787 routes will include Tokyo Haneda (HND)-Beijing, beginning in December, and HND-Frankfurt, beginning in January. Its first domestic routes will include HND-Itami, HND-Yamaguchi Ube and HND-Matsuyama by the end of March 2013.

ANA estimates the 787’s fuel savings will eventually be worth $130 million a year. Ito said that with just two newly delivered aircraft, it was still too early to determine the exact fuel performance of the aircraft, which ended up heavier than originally designed.

“We don’t expect a substantial gap between performance and expectations but this is the first aircraft and we are examining the performance but need more time,” he said.

The airline’s second 787 passenger flight, NH7872, a special charter, returned from HKG-NRT Oct. 27.

(Karen Walker - ATWOnline News)

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