Jetstar's 787 takes to the air
By Geoffrey Thomas Mon Sep 16, 2013
Jetstar’s first 335-seat Boeing 787 has taken to the air in Seattle, Washington State in the US, ahead of its delivery to Melbourne, Australia set for Wednesday October 9.
Resplendent in a striking silver and orange colour scheme livery, and registered VH-VKA, the 787 was aloft for several hours.
Jetstar, part of the Qantas Group, is getting 14 Boeing 787s and will have three in service by Christmas. The Qantas Group has overall commitments for 64 787s.
After the first Jetstar 787 arrives in Australia it will then go to the regulator to be certified to start flying initially on Australian domestic routes in November.
Jetstar’s 787 program director Mark Dal Pra said using it domestically would let more Australians experience the state-of-the-art plane.
It would be the only 787 used on domestic routes and would later join the airline’s international network for services to Singapore, Japan and Hawaii.
The Jetstar 787 has an entertainment system with video on demand, games, USB ports and in-seat power.
It is the most technologically advanced commercial plane with a host of passenger features. A key to its quantum leap is the carbon fibre-reinforced polymer composite construction, which is far lighter and stronger than traditional aluminium and does not corrode.
This allows higher cabin humidity and less pressurisation to eliminate negatives of flying such as dehydration and mild altitude sickness.
Other advances are big windows and gust suppression to counter turbulence.
AirlineRatings.com will be aboard the first delivery flight with daily updates.
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