Boeing 787 Era Begins

Boeing's new 787 "Dreamliner" made its inaugural flight today.

According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution:

After a delay of more than three years, Boeing's much-hyped jet, the 787, made its first commercial flight, from Tokyo to Hong Kong — and landed on-time.

The All Nippon Airways flight was packed mostly with aviation reporters and enthusiasts, some of whom paid thousands of dollars for the privilege and treated the experience like a rock concert, clapping after lift-off and snapping photos for posterity.

The 787, which is nicknamed The Dreamliner, is neither the fastest nor largest jet. But it is built out of ultra-lightweight materials and promises to be 20 percent more fuel-efficient than comparable aircraft, a big deal at a time of high oil prices.

Thus far, I've flown on Boeing's 747 and 777 jetliners with different carriers including United, Singapore Air and Korean Air to Japan. It will be interesting to fly aboard the new Dreamliner and whether or not the ultra-lightweight materials translates to lower air fares.

To read the full AJC article, go here.