SANTIAGO - Greetings from Chile, where a 7.1 earthquake greeted me shortly after my arrival this past weekend. Other than a few tense moments—all was fine.
I’m here taking part in the events surrounding the 787’s visit to Santiago as part of the Dream Tour and the 2012 FIDAE Air Show. The airplane is also here to visit our customer LAN, one of the leading airlines in Latin America.
The 787 gets a bath during a water salute in Santiago.
Earlier today, LAN announced the first routes for its 787 Dreamliners. The airline currently has plans to take 32 of the airplanes—26 directly ordered from Boeing and another six through leasing—and will be the first airline in Latin America to fly the 787. The first destinations it will take the airplanes are Santiago, Buenos Aires, Lima, Los Angeles, Madrid and Frankfurt.
I was on hand as LAN announced their 787 routes.
A 787 in LAN livery.
LAN’s plan for the Dreamliner really does reinforce what the 787 is all about—the chance to open up new routes and markets for our customers. In fact, as the President of JAL took delivery of two 787s yesterday, he described what he liked best about the airplane: its beauty, its economics and its long range. “Taking delivery of the 787 was like meeting the love of a lifetime,” he said after landing in Tokyo. JAL plans to put the 787’s attributes to work when it starts service between Tokyo and Boston next month.
Japan Airlines’ first 787 takes off from Paine Field on Monday headed for Tokyo Narita airport. Gail Hanusa photo.
Here in Latin America, the 787 is in a perfect position. The long-term forecast for this region shows that 260 787-size airplanes will needed for growth and replacement over the next 20 years. When you consider only 49 787s are currently on order from Latin American airlines, it means even more opportunity for the Dreamliner.
from Randy's Journal
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