Dreamliner: The game changer for airlines
For many airlines, the new Boeing aircraft-the Dreamliner is a new tool of change for many of them. As a result, many airlines are now taking delivery of the new high fuel-efficient airplane.
With jet fuel prices near record highs, the drive to conserve is stronger than ever.
The entire industry is hoping a switch from radar to GPS-based navigation will cut the time it takes both to reach cruising altitude and land a plane.
An American airline recently made headlines with its novel bid to buy an oil refinery, taking a more direct role in procuring fuel. But Delta and other airlines are experimenting with a number of other ways to cut costs.
The new jet is the first commercial airliner built using carbon fiber — a strong, lightweight, high-tech plastic — rather than the typical aluminum skin. It is quieter and uses about 20 percent less fuel than a comparably sized aluminum aircraft.
The Chief Executive Officer of United Airlines, Jeff Smisek said, the 787s have an extended range and its cabin have bigger windows and larger overhead compartments. For improved passenger comfort, the humidity can be controlled and the air pressure during flights will be equivalent to an altitude of 6,000 feet instead of the conventional 8,000 feet.
"Customers will love flying in them," he said. "So it's good for us and great for the customer."
United Continental will be the first North American carrier to receive the 787s.
He said 787s will mostly replace existing aircraft instead of adding capacity because, "I don't see us growing our mainline fleet in any significant way under these current conditions."
Airlines have ordered more than 800 of the planes that will compete with the Airbus A350. United Continental has ordered 25 of the Airbus aircraft.
Throughout the past year's stuttering recovery, oil prices have constantly loomed in the shadows. They now seem to be about to subvert the recovery agenda. The Middle East is unlikely to return to normality quickly and, although there is no real shortage of oil yet, there is sufficient nervousness – and speculators with an interest in inflated prices – to push the level unpredictably.
Jet fuel prices are close to the tipping point for airline profitability and, while limited fuel surcharges may hold, it is doubtful the market is sufficiently resilient to absorb much more in the way of higher fares.
The double impact will translate quickly to the bottom line. Price increases unfortunately stimulate an almost inverse correlation relationship, where costs increase on one side and yields soften as discretionary spending slows.
As a result of cost cutting measure, world's biggest airline, United Airlines last week in far away Chicago, announced that it would deploy the aircraft to Lagos from its hub in Houston beginning January 7, 2013.
The airline will be the second airline after Ethiopia Airline to operate the aircraft type to Nigeria, which is considered a feat for the nation.
Ethiopia become the second country after Japan to take delivery of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Ethiopian Airlines has bought 10 of Boeing's flagship aircraft, which are built from lightweight material, rather than aluminium, to save fuel.
Speaking to The Guardian in Chicago last week at Willis Tower, the airline's head office at United's international media day to highlight the stride the carrier had taken since its merger with Continental Airlines two years ago, Smisek said in addition to the previously-announced service from its Denver hub to Tokyo Narita, starting March 31, 2013, the airline will operate nonstop 787 service five days a week between its Houston hub and Lagos, Nigeria, beginning Jan. 7, 2013.
United will also operate daily, nonstop 787 service between its Los Angeles hub and its Narita hub, beginning Jan. 3, 2013, and Los Angeles to Shanghai, beginning March 30, 2013"
He further disclosed that United will also operate daily, nonstop 787 service from its Houston hub to Amsterdam and London Heathrow on a temporary basis, adding that Houston to Amsterdam service begins Dec. 4, 2012, and Houston to London Heathrow service begins Feb. 4, 2013.
According to him, the 787 is the right aircraft for these routes because of its many passenger-friendly amenities and superior operating economics, stressing that, "With 50 787s on order, we look forward to the many new route opportunities that will become available to United and our customers in the future."
Configured with 36 seats in United BusinessFirst, 72 seats in United Economy Plus and 111 seats in United Economy, the Dreamliner will revolutionize the flying experience for United customers and crews while delivering unprecedented operating efficiency, comfort and lower emissions. Customers will experience greater comfort with improved lighting, bigger windows, larger overhead bins, lower cabin altitude and enhanced ventilation systems, among other passenger-friendly features.
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