China Eastern receives bigger version Dreamliner
The new-generation Dreamliner lands at the Hongqiao International Airport around 6pm on Saturday. It was delivered to China Eastern's affiliated Shanghai Airlines to become the carrier's 100th aircraft.
China Eastern Airlines received its first Boeing 787-9 on Saturday in Shanghai and unveiled its new inflight service system, said to be the world's leading.
The new-generation Dreamliner landed at the Hongqiao International Airport around 6pm. It was handed over to China Eastern's affiliated Shanghai Airlines to become the carrier's 100th aircraft.
The new aircraft will be initially dispatched on domestic routes between Shanghai and Beijing, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. After that, it will fly between the Hongqiao airport and Taipei, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Seoul, or between the Pudong airport and Singapore and Melbourne, according to the Shanghai Airlines.
The B787-9 has 258 seats in a triple-configuration. It includes 30 business-class seats, 28 premier economy and 227 economy-class seats.
Its service and entertainment facilities mark the debut of China Eastern's new-generation inflight system, which features slide doors for business-class to create a more intimate space as well as a 32-inch touch screen, mini-bar, private locker and USB hubs for its top-class seats.
Two fire trucks create a "water gate" over the newly received Boeing 787-9 of China Eastern Airlines on Saturday night at the Hongqiao airport in a conventional ceremony for new airliners.
As a highlight, two luxury business class seats can be combined into a small conference room for four to cap the demands of business or family travelers. The new inflight system also features high-speed WiFi access that can reach 200Mbps.
Furthermore, a more variety of dishes can be cooked for passengers with its cutting-edge kitchens that are equipped with the world's first inflight microwave oven along with coffee machines and refrigerators.
China Eastern has ordered a total of 15 B787-9 from Boeing. Ten among them will be delivered to Shanghai Airlines and the rest will be given to China Eastern Yunnan Airlines. Another two B787-9 will be received by the end of the year, while the rests will be handed over by 2021.
Air China has also ordered 15 B787-9 aircraft. The bigger 787 version uses 20 percent less fuel and produces 20 percent less emissions than similarly sized airplanes, according to Boeing.
The B787-9 has 258 seats in a triple-configuration. It includes 30 business-class seats, 28 premier economy and 227 economy-class seats.
Two luxury business class seats of the new B787-9 of China Eastern Airlines can be combined into a small conference room for four to cap the demands of business or family travelers.
