Singapore Airlines (SIA) has taken the delivery of Boeing’s newest aircraft variant 787-10 at a glittering function organised at North Charleston, South Carolina. It has become the world’s first airline to take delivery of the newest Boeing aircraft type.
The aircraft has been constructed using lightweight composite materials and is 68 metres in length which is the longest variant of Boeing’s Dreamliner range of aircraft. It will feature SIA’s new regional cabin products, configured with 337 seats in two classes, featuring 36 Business Class and 301 Economy Class seats.
The new aircraft will be used for flights that take up to eight hours, with Osaka and Perth being the first two scheduled destinations from May. The aircraft will also fly on selected flights to Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur for crew training purposes.
“It is an honour for us to be the world’s first airline to take delivery of this amazing aircraft. The 787-10 is indeed a magnificent piece of engineering and truly a work of art,” said Goh Choon Phong, SIA CEO during the delivery ceremony at Boeing's production facility in North Charleston, South Carolina.
“It will be an important element in our overall growth strategy, enabling us to expand our network and strengthen our operations,” he added.
The ceremony was also attended by Kevin McAllister, the Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO, Dominic Horwood, Rolls-Royce Director Customers and Services, along with some three thousand Boeing employees and invited guests.
“This is a big day for all of us at Boeing and for our global supplier partners. We are thrilled to deliver the first 787-10 Dreamliner to Singapore Airlines, one of the world's leading carriers. And we are honoured by Singapore Airlines’ partnership and trust, as reflected by their repeated orders for the Dreamliner,” said McAllister.
Boeing’s newest aircraft variant 787-10 will be unveiled at an arrival ceremony in Singapore on March 28 after the aircraft’s delivery flight from North Charleston via Osaka.
Khaw Boon Wan, Singapore’s Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Minister for Transport will be the Guest-of-Honour for this event.
“SIA is the largest customer for the 787-10. Low-cost subsidiary Scoot is already an operator of both 787-8s and 787-9s, making SIA the first airline group in the world to operate all three variants of Boeing’s Dreamliner family of aircraft,” said SIA in a press release.