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Virgin Atlantic’s inaugural Boeing 787 flight to Boston

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Virgin Atlantic has commenced Boeing 787 passenger flights today (Tuesday 28 October 2014) with its inaugural flight from London Heathrow to Boston.

Flight VS11 departed London Heathrow for Boston Logan International Airport shortly after its scheduled departure time of 17:35. Virgin also operated a test flight from London Gatwick to Atlanta on Friday 24 October, which is pictured below.

Whilst today marks the official launch of passenger flights for the Boeing 787, according to Airline Route the 787 will not operate from 31 October to 14 November to allow for crew familiarisation flights.

The replacement of quad-engine Boeing 747s and Airbus A340s at London Heathrow with the twin-engine Boeing 787 is cited as a significant step in restoring Virgin Atlantic to profitability, together with its nascent transatlantic joint-venture with Delta Air Lines. Virgin Atlantic originally ordered 15 Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, with options for 8 aircraft and purchase rights for a further 20 aircraft.

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Virgin Atlantic begins Boeing 787 operations with inaugural flight to Boston

Virgin Atlantic commenced Boeing 787 passenger flights today (Tuesday 28 October) with its inaugural flight to Boston.

Flight VS11 departed London Heathrow for Boston shortly after its scheduled departure time of 17:35. Virgin also operated a test flight from London Gatwick to Atlanta on Friday 24 October, which is pictured below.

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BA to fly the Boeing 787 to Montreal from Sunday 29 March 2015

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Biosphere, Île Sainte-Hélène, Montreal (Image Credit: London Air Travel)

British Airways has announced that Montreal is to join its network of Boeing 787 routes from Sunday 29 March 2015.

Montreal will be the third Canadian city to be served by the Boeing 787, after Toronto and Calgary.

BA’s single daily flight from London Heathrow to Montreal (BA 95 and the return BA 94) will be operated by the 787, replacing a Boeing 777 in the summer season and a Boeing 767 in the winter season.

In terms of capacity, the change from a 777 to a 787 in the summer season will result in 13 fewer Club World business class seats and 49 fewer World Traveller economy seats on each flight.

Other current BA 787 routes include Austin (to be replaced by a Boeing 777), Chennai, Chengdu, and New York Newark.

Air Canada also flies to Montreal from London Heathrow. Air Transat also flies to Montreal from London Gatwick.

British Airways’ Boeing 787 to fly from London Heathrow to Montreal from Sunday 29 March 2015

British Airways has announced that Montreal is to join its network of Boeing 787 routes from Sunday 29 March 2015.

Biosphere, Parc Jean Drapeau, Montreal, Canada — The Biosphere, Parc Jean Drapeau, Ile St Helene, Montreal

Montreal will be the third Canadian city to be served by the Boeing 787, after Toronto and Calgary.

In terms of capacity, the change from a 777 to a 787 in the summer season will result in 13 fewer Club World business class seats and 49 fewer World Traveller economy seats on each flight.

Other current BA 787 routes include Austin (to be replaced by a Boeing 777), Chennai, Chengdu, and New York Newark.

Air Canada also flies to Montreal from London Heathrow. Air Transat also flies to Montreal and London Gatwick.

Virgin Atlantic’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner: Initial seat plans published

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Virgin Atlantic is readying for the launch of its inaugural Boeing 787 Dreamliner flight from London Heathrow to Boston on 28 October 2014.

Embed from Getty Images

Sir Richard Branson pictured in a mock-up of the Boeing 787, some seven years ago.

The airline has published a microsite detailing its plans.

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Virgin Atlantic’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner: Initial seat plans & product information published.

Virgin Atlantic is readying for the launch of its inaugural Boeing 787 Dreamliner flight from London Heathrow to Boston on 28 October 2014.

Embed from Getty Images

Sir Richard Branson pictured in a mock-up of the Boeing 787, some seven years ago.

The airline has published a microsite detailing its plans.

Continue reading “Virgin Atlantic’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner: Initial seat plans & product information published.”

BA to stop First Class on Cape Town, Las Vegas, Phoenix & Vancouver from 26 October 2014

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British Airways First Class Cabin (Image Credit: British Airways)

Update December 2014: BA has announced that First Class will return to Vancouver from Sunday 29 March 2015 and Cape Town, Las Vegas and Phoenix from Sunday 25 October 2015. More details here

Many readers will know that, over the past five years, British Airways has been progressively updating its four class Boeing 777 and 747 aircraft with a new first class product.

The roll out on Boeing 777 aircraft has long been complete. Out of BA’s fleet of nearly fifty Boeing 747 aircraft, less than ten do not have the latest first class product. These aircraft are left with the Kelly Hoppen designed interior from the year 2000.

It is no exaggeration to say these cabins are showing their age and, in response, BA has by default offered 50,000 Avios to members of the Executive Club frequent flyer programme as compensation.

With number of 747s in BA’s fleet expected to fall to approximately thirty by 2018 and the last 747 due to retire after 2020, many of those aircraft that do not have the new first class cabin are likely to be retired over the coming year.

BA has now decided to stop selling first class on these aircraft and will instead offer a three class service, with business class passengers seated in the first class cabin (who will receive the standard “Club World” service) if there is the demand.

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British Airways to stop selling First Class on selected flights to Cape Town, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Vancouver from 26 October 2014

Update December 2014: BA has announced that First Class will return to Vancouver from Sunday 29 March 2015 and Cape Town, Las Vegas and Phoenix from Sunday 25 October 2015. More details here

Many readers will know that, over the past five years, British Airways has been progressively updating its four class Boeing 777 and 747 aircraft with a new first class product.

It is no exaggeration to say these cabins are showing their age and, in response, BA has by default offered 50,000 Avios to members of the Executive Club frequent flyer programme as compensation.

Continue reading “British Airways to stop selling First Class on selected flights to Cape Town, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Vancouver from 26 October 2014”

BA launches a microsite for its Boeing 787 and Airbus A380 aircraft

BA’s parent company, International Airlines Group, published its annual results last week. Overall, the group reported an operating profit of €770m, much of this coming from British Airways. IAG was particularly upbeat about the performance of the A380 aircraft, though less was said about the Boeing 787.

BA has also recently produced a dedicated microsite for both new aircraft at ournewplanes.ba.com

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BA launches its inaugural flight from London Heathrow to Austin

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British Airways Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (Image Credit: Heathrow)

Today, 3 March 2014, at 12:35, a Boeing 787 operating as British Airways flight BA191 will depart from London Heathrow Terminal 5. 10 hours and 25 minutes later it should land at Bergstrom International airport in Austin, Texas, completing the inaugural flight from London Heathrow to Austin.

Initially the service will operate five times a week, increasing to daily from 5 May 2014.

This is the first new transatlantic route launched by BA since Las Vegas in 2009 and San Diego in 2011.

It is noteworthy as this is the first route launched specifically for the Boeing 787 which has, to date, been used to either replace Boeing 767s on transatlantic flights or Boeing 777s on “thinner” Asia routes.

Although much has been made by BA and its parent company International Airlines Group that the Boeing 787 will aid the launch of new routes between London and Asia, we expect further transatlantic routes to by opened up by the 787, particularly because of the support provided by BA’s transatlantic joint-venture partner, American Airlines.

Not only do more routes give BA network strength against Delta and Virgin Atlantic, but also the Middle Eastern carriers who have only begun to scratch the surface of the North America market.

Flights to Austin can be booked via BA.com or as codeshares via American Airlines.