All Nippon Airways (ANA) has adjusted its Dreamliner order with Boeing, swapping the B787-8 model for the larger B787-9.
The Japanese carrier revealed today (19 June 2012) that the four B787-8 Dreamliners due to be delivered from the start of the 2013 financial year will now be replaced by the same number of B787-9s. ANA said the larger version would give it “greater flexibility” as it expands its international route network.
The airline, which was the launch customer for the B787, has ordered a total of 55 Dreamliners, of which 36 will now be B787-8s and 19 B787-9s. Since receiving its first B787-8 Dreamliner in September last year, ANA has taken delivery of a further six of the new fuel-efficient aircraft. Initially they operated on domestic Japanese routes, before being rolled out to international destinations in January this year, initially to Frankfurt. ANA plans to launch long-haul B787 services to the US cities of Seattle and San Jose later this year.
The B787-9 is 6.1 metres longer than the B787-8, and ANA told Travel Daily that it will be able to carry approximately 30% more passengers. Currently ANA operates a range of different Dreamliner configurations, with 158 seats for long-haul flights, 222 seats on short-haul routes, and 335 seats on domestic services.
The B787-9 is also more expensive, with a list price of US$227.8 million, compared to US$193.5m for the B787-8. Financial details of the ANA order change were not revealed.
