OK, so all that happened is that a plane took of from Tokyo and landed in Hong Kong. Happens every day. But passengers aboard the Dreamliner’s inaugural commercial flight found themselves actually enjoying the experience. The Telegraph’s Peter Hughes positively gushed about the plane’s creature comforts. And who can blame him: The Dreamliner has higher ceilings and bigger windows and increased cabin pressure, along with softer LED lighting. The 787 is in many noticeable ways a more comfortable aircraft. It sounds awesome.
A lot of people are understandably excited about the plane — Hughes reports that one American fanboy shelled out $US31,781 on eBay for a ticket. The plane is much cheaper to operate than its predecessors. Even if the savings aren’t passed on to us, passengers will see more non-stop flights on lower-demand routes, which means fewer connections and ameliorated congestion at huge regional hubs.
On top of all of that, it’s nice to hear first hand that the plane is a plush ride. Congratulations to the engineers at Boeing for building a commodious and technologically advanced flying machine. [The Telegraph]
Image: Boeing
EMH
Thursday, October 27, 2011 at 9:32 AMAirliners depend on their average density for cost of operation, the lower the average density the cheaper per seat the aeroplane is to operate. The Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 have the lowest average density today (I have not attempted to compare their averagie densities).
Since ANA is the only operator of the B787 so far it is inevitable that their aeroplane will attract a lot of attention, and favourable comment. In the end however it is just another conventional airliner with a few baubles, like bigger windows. As competition increases for the type the number of seats will probably increase until legroom in the 787 is the same as it is in all other airliners operating the same routes. How much difference will the “baubles” make in the long run? Probably none at all.
The 787, like the A380, creates some genuine benefits but they are essentially for the airline and maybe, to a very minor extent, the environment.
I should mention that I alwas enjoy flying in airliners, unlike almost everyone else on the planet. I find that legroom is good, food is good and inflight iformation via moving maps etc, keep me amused when I can’t see anything outside. I guess I am nuts.
Antonia
Thursday, October 27, 2011 at 9:52 AMI agree. For me cost is important, then the relative safety record of the airline, and finally (on long haul flights) the time to destination. Bigger windows etc are a “nice to have” but not game changers.
TSH
Thursday, October 27, 2011 at 10:33 AMWhile, like you, I actually do enjoy my time in an airliner I have to say that any improvement is … an improvement. Right?
I’ve found 747 seating space to be quite adequate, and so long as the Dreamliner doesn’t go *backwards* in the space and comfort stakes I reckon it’s good to see a new airliner ready to dominate the sky. After 40 years of the 747 (check Wikipedia. Woah.) it’s good to see some real progress in long-haul airframes with the A380 and the 787
typedmillepede
Thursday, October 27, 2011 at 1:25 PMThere is a lot more to it than that, but this is gizmodo, not an airline economics class. The 787 is going to be hugely popular for the airlines because of the efficiency gain, and the fact that they can fly long haul to smaller airports. This aircraft literally opens up markets that have never had enough passenger traffic to justify having a plane on them. This plane is small enough, but has enough legs too.
Vron
Thursday, October 27, 2011 at 9:38 AMYou could put their video up…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4tNTcSGs4E
David Hasselhoff
Thursday, October 27, 2011 at 9:59 AMI can’t wait to fly this and own one soon.
moloko
Thursday, October 27, 2011 at 12:15 PMHow much do these babies cost with their shit load of new tech and shit load of carbon fibre compared to other ones on market?
Incredibad
Friday, October 28, 2011 at 10:54 AMDon’t forget to turn off your tiny usb mp3 player that emits pretty much no electromagnetic interference.