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| A United Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. Photo: Boeing |
[Avionics Today 09-04-2014] Boeing has delivered the first 787-9 Dreamliner to United Airlines, the North American launch customer for both the 787-8 and 787-9 variants. United already operates 11 787 Dreamliners with an additional 54 on order, including the 787-10.
Earlier this year the airline announced plans to fly the aircraft on what will become the longest 787 route — nonstop service between Los Angeles and Melbourne, Australia.
With such a long flight ahead, Boeing says travelers will appreciate what it describes as “passenger-pleasing” features, such as large windows, large stow bins, modern LED lighting, higher humidity, a lower cabin altitude, cleaner air and a smoother ride. Furthermore, the 787-9 fuselage is stretched by 20 feet over the 787-8 and the new variant will fly up to 40 more passengers an additional 450 nautical miles with 20 percent less fuel burn and 20 percent fewer emissions than similarly sized aircraft, according to Boeing.