Xiamen Airlines are celebrating the delivery of their first Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the first widebody airplane for the all-Boeing airline.
With this new addition, Xiamen Airlines becomes the third Chinese airline to operate the 787. The aircraft will be used on the airlines long-haul flights from its Fujian province base to Europe, North America and Australia.
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As part of Xiamen Airlines' 12th five-year plan ending 2015, the carrier plans to grow its fleet to 150 airplanes, including six 787s. Formed in 1984 as China's first joint venture between the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and a municipal government, Xiamen Airlines started services in 1985 with two 737-200s serving three cities. The carrier has grown into China's sixth largest airline serving 218 domestic routes and 26 international and regional routes.
To support Xiamen Airlines' 787, Boeing will provide a comprehensive suite of support and services that includes flight training, Airplane Health Management, electronic charts and navigation data, and Maintenance Performance Toolbox through its Commercial Aviation Services business.
Xiamen Airlines is China's only all-Boeing carrier. In November 2013, the airline took delivery of its 100th Boeing airplane, a Next-Generation 737-800. Xiamen Airlines has a total of six 787s on order.