Boeing 787 first flight to Tokyo new aircraft carbon fiber oyster sauce 20%

The long-awaited Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the world's longest-anticipated aircraft, was officially delivered to the first airline, ANA, and ANA plans to fly its first flight next month. It will fly from Tokyo to Hong Kong and formally begin domestic flights in November.

The 787 half of the fuselage is made of carbon fiber, which is solid and lightweight. Compared with similar models, the fuel consumption is reduced by about 20%.

Boeing Company was originally scheduled for delivery in the summer of 2008, but due to parts shortages, safety issues, and the 58-day ** operation in 2008, the delivery date was postponed by 3 years, and the first 787 Dreamliner was completed on Sunday (25th). Delivery will arrive at Haneda Airport in Japan this Wednesday (28th). All Nippon Airways became the world’s first airline to introduce the 787, participating in the development and construction of a 35% passenger aircraft.

All Nippon Airways plans to launch a special maiden flight next month, from Tokyo to Hong Kong; it will officially start its domestic route in November, and it will begin its international first flight in January next year and will fly to Frankfurt, Germany.

The 787 airliner cost 200 million U.S. dollars (about 1.56 billion Hong Kong dollars). Boeing said half of the airframes of passenger aircrafts are made of carbon fiber composite materials. With a lighter body, they can save fuel consumption by 20% and are suitable for less passengers. However, it is not stable enough to use the routes of large aircraft. The airline believes the 787 is of a modest size and can fly long distances, helping airlines to open up new routes.

As the world’s ninth largest airline’s ANA, it placed 55 787 passenger planes for Boeing with a total value of 11 billion US dollars (approximately HK$85.8 billion). All Nippon Airways plans to receive four passenger aircrafts this year, and another eight next year. All deliveries will be completed by the end of 2017.

In recent years, crude oil prices have risen, fuel charges have hit airline revenues, and the 787's low fuel consumption performance has attracted much attention. This year, Boeing received a total of 821 787 orders, competing with the airbus A350 that was launched in 2013.

However, the "Seattle Times" reported that Boeing has spent as much as $32 billion (approximately HK$249.6 billion) on the development and construction of the first 40 787s. The market questioned the high cost and would make Boeing unprofitable. The Wall Street Journal also questioned whether Boeing had the ability to increase its monthly production to 10 targets by 2013.

Boeing responded that investment in the 787 was the right business option, but refused to respond to the $32 billion. Aviation analyst Scott Hamilton believes that Boeing’s sale of 1,200 passenger aircraft should be able to make money.