One down, 820 to go – Boeing celebrates first 787 delivery

500 Boeing employees who work on the 787 program walk in front of 787 JA801A as it presented to the crowd as part of the delivery ceremony. (Boeing)

Boeing has celebrated the delivery of the first customer 787 Dreamliner to Japan’s ANA with a ceremony at its Everett, Washington plant.

ANA’s 787-8 JA801A – which was contractually handed over a day earlier – is the first of 821 787s on order to be delivered, and is due to depart Everett on its delivery flight to Tokyo at 6.35am Tuesday morning (local time).

“I want to thank ANA and all the employees of Boeing and our partner companies for the talent, technology and teamwork that have brought this game-changing airplane to life,” said Jim McNerney, Boeing chairman, president and CEO.

“We are delighted to be taking delivery finally of our first 787. ANA is extremely proud to be the launch customer for the Dreamliner and to have helped Boeing so closely in the development of this state-of-the-art aircraft,” said Shinichiro Ito, ANA president and CEO. “The Dreamliner will enable us to offer unrivalled standards of service and comfort to our passengers and will play a key part in ANA’s plans for international expansion.”

The Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 powered JA801A will enter service on October 26 when it is due to operate a charter flight from Tokyo-Narita to Hong Kong, before entering scheduled service on November 1 on domestic routes within Japan.