Air Canada (Montreal) and Boeing (Chicago and Seattle) yesterday (May 18) celebrated the delivery of the first 787 Dreamliner, the first airline in Canada to fly the Dreamliner. The pictured Boeing 787-8 C-GHPQ (msn 35257), the first of Air Canada’s 37 787s on order for delivery through 2019, departed Paine Field in Everett, Washington yesterday on its delivery flight to Toronto (Pearson).
Air Canada has announced it will use the 787 on its Toronto-Tel Aviv routes, as well as launch a new destination – Tokyo’s Haneda Airport. The 787 is 20 percent more fuel efficient than similar-sized airplanes it will replace in Air Canada’s fleet.
Air Canada’s 787 launches the airlines’ new International Business Class Cabin with 20 seats. The airplane offers 21 seats in Air Canada’s Premium Economy Cabin and 210 seats in Air Canada Economy. Customers will be more comfortable with improved lighting, bigger windows, larger overhead bins, lower cabin altitude and enhanced ventilation systems, among other features.
Made from composite materials, the 787 Dreamliner is the first mid-size airplane capable of flying long-range routes and will allow airlines to open new, non-stop routes preferred by the traveling public. In addition to providing airlines with unprecedented fuel economy and low operating costs, the 787 features a host of new technologies that greatly enhance the passenger experience.
To support Air Canada’s 787 Dreamliners, Boeing will provide a comprehensive suite of support and services through its Commercial Aviation Services business. Air Canada will receive flight and maintenance training and in-flight pilot training services. Boeing provides Air Canada’s fleet with crew planning solutions; electronic charting for electronic flight bags; Maintenance Performance Toolbox, a digital real-time-information tool that enables quick resolution of airplane maintenance issues; and Direct Routes and Wind Updates services for more efficient flights to reduce fuel consumption.
Besides the announced Tel Aviv and Tokyo Haneda (above), AC will also operate the new 787 on some shorter routes as it “breaks in” the new type and then expands to longer routes. Toronto-Halifax will be operated starting on May 23 on certain initial dates. Toronto-Zurich will be operated from May 25 to July 14 per Airline Route. Toronto-London (Heathrow) will operate five days a week from July 2 to July 13.
The planned Toronto-Tokyo (Haneda) will now start on July 15. The planned Toronto-Tel Aviv will now start on August 6.
The new type will also operate from Vancouver to Shanghai (Pudong) starting on October 26 and Toronto-Paris (CDG) starting on December 1 (all subject to change as the aircraft are delivered).
Copyright Photo: PRNews Foto/Air Canada. Boeing 787-8 C-GHPQ touches down in Toronto (Toronto) on the afternoon of May 18 as flight AC 7008 carrying 100 of the airline’s employees on its maiden voyage. Air Canada is the first Canadian airline to fly the new aircraft which, with its long-range and unsurpassed fuel efficiency, will play a starring role in the airline’s international expansion strategy. Air Canada has orders for 37 Boeing 787 aircraft.
Air Canada: 
Video: C-GHPQ arrives at YYZ:
Filed under: Air Canada Tagged: 35257, 787, 787-8, Air Canada, Boeing, Boeing 787, Boeing 787-8, C-GHPQ, Pearson, Toronto, YYZ
