Airberlin is First German Airline to Get Boeing 787 Dreamliner

Boeing's 787 Dreamliner made its first landing in Germany on Saturday, June 25 at 9am, local time. airberlin will be the first airline in Germany to receive the Dreamliner. The Boeing test aircraft ZA001 was welcomed at Berlin-Tegel airport by airberlin, representatives of the manufacturer Boeing and of Berlin Airports with an official ceremony.
 
Prof. Dr. Rainer Schwarz, Chief Executive Officer of Berlin Airports, said, "In less than a year we will open the new Airport Berlin-Brandenburg Willy Brandt. The Boeing Dreamliner will become the Berlin aircraft par excellence: An aircraft of the next generation for an airport of the next generation." Designed for 210 to 250 passengers, the Dreamliner is the first medium-sized aircraft for long-haul flights and bridges a gap in the market. "The Dreamliner will finally enable airlines like airberlin to offer non-stop long-haul flights from airports other than the major hubs," Schwarz said.
 
“We have received great interest and support for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner as we have presented it this week in Europe," said Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of the 787 program. "It's wonderful to be in Berlin today for further validation that this airplane provides the technologies and value that our customers need."
 
Added Joachim Hunold, CEO of airberlin: "With a specific fuel consumption of 3.6 liters per 100 passenger kilometers, the airberlin fleet already ranks among the most efficient in Europe. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner also sets new standards in the area of fuel efficiency. It is therefore the perfect addition to our modern fleet, from both an economic and ecological point of view.”
 
The test aircraft ZA001 is the first 787 built by Boeing. The 787 is notable for its environmental and cost efficiency and use of state-of-the-art technologies, with a fuel consumption 20 percent lower than that of similar-sized aircraft. The first Boeing 787 in airberlin livery is planned to be delivered to the airline in April 2014. A further 17 deliveries are planned between then and August 2019.

Photo courtesy of Günter Wicker and Berlin Airports. Pictured: Dr. Rainer Schwarz (CEO of Berlin Airports), Joachim Hunold (CEO of Air Berlin), Greg Delawie (Envoy of the American Embassy in Berlin)  and Scott Fancher (vice president and  general manager of Boeing 787 Program).