Boeing will send its new 787 Dreamliner to at least four countries on two continents during a six month world tour, the company announced this week.
Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner ZA003, aka N787BX, completing a test flight at Seattle's Boeing Field. (Photo by Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren)
The “Dream Tour” will showcase the aircraft to customers around the world, giving buyers the opportunity to step aboard the third test plane, recently retrofitted for passenger use.
“The 787 Dreamliner is a game-changing airplane and we’re delighted to be able to bring this innovative product to our customers who will soon be receiving their own 787s,” said Ray Conner, vice president of Sales for Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “This airplane is now changing the way the world flies, and we want to share that excitement with as many people as we can.”
The tour is scheduled to kick off with a visit to China during the week of December 4th to the 11th and include stops in Beijing, Guangzhou and Haikou. It will include visits from the Civil Aviation Administration of China, Air China, China Southern, Hainan Airlines, Aviation Industries of China and Chengdu Aircraft Industrial Co.
Following the Chinese tour, the airplane will visit with African launch customer Ethiopian Airlines and fellow African buyer Kenyan Airways in Addis Ababa and Nairobi, respectively, December 11-16.
The final announced stop will find the aircraft in Doha to show off to Qatar Airways, on December 16-20.
The remainder of the schedule has yet to be announced, though Boeing remarked that they intend to update the airplanes progress and routes on www.newairplane.com.
N787BX, the third airplane off the 787 line, was recently repainted in Boeing house colors following the conclusion of the airplanes participation in the certification program. The aircraft was refitted with a passenger configuration, gutting the former combo between passenger seats and test equipment. It made its first public appearance at the Dubai Air Show in November.
