iFly as Dreamliner takes to skies

The new long-haul jet aims to change with the way passengers think about flying, with larger windows, improved lighting and air pressure, and humidity that more closely resembles that on the ground.

It is not the fastest or largest jet, but the plane, nicknamed the Dreamliner by Boeing, is built of lightweight materials that promise to dramatically improve fuel efficiency. The first flight, from Tokyo to Hong Kong, was filled with 240 aviation reporters and enthusiasts – some of whom paid thousands of pounds for the privilege.

“It’s silly, but it’s a little piece of history. New cars come out all the time, but how often do new planes come out?” said Stephanie Wood from Florida, who paid about £12,000 for two business-class seats.

The most noticeable feature of the plane is its windows, which are 30 per cent larger than older jets. Passengers no longer need to hunch forward to see the ground. The blinds are replaced with a glare-reducing, electrical dimming system that adds tint to the window within 30 seconds.

The £122 million plane’s debut was more than three years delayed because of manufacturing problems. But that didn’t bother the fans, who broke out in applause at every opportunity.

The highlight for many was a rainbow-colored light-show that transformed the sedate white interior into something closer to the Las Vegas Strip.

Many of the 106 enthusiasts on board the flight by Japan’s All Nippon Airways were carrying memorabilia from past inaugural flights and snapping photos of everything from the overhead bins to the toilet with a window and a bidet. The aircraft also features seat-to-seat e-mail.

The 787 has been sold by Boeing as a “game changer,” promising to revolutionise air travel just as its 707 did by allowing non-stop trans-Atlantic service and the 747 did by ushering in an age of mass travel.

The 787 is designed to connect cities that might otherwise not have non-stop flights. Planes like the Boeing 747 and 777, and the Airbus A380 can fly most long-haul routes, but finding enough daily passengers to fill the massive jets is a challenge. The A380 typically has 525 passengers but can hold up to 853.

The 787 carries only 210 to 250 passengers. That means it can fly nonstop routes that larger planes can’t profitably support, such as San Francisco to Manchester, or Boston to Athens.

“It’s going to be a hub-avoiding machine,” said Ernie Arvai, partner with aviation consulting firm AirInsight. “You’d pay extra not to go to Heathrow.”

Connecting such smaller cities is the “holy grail” of air travel, said Richard Aboulafia, analyst with the Teal Group. That’s why the plane is the fastest-selling new jet in aviation history. There were 821 orders for the 787 before its first flight, although 24 were recently cancelled by China Eastern Airlines because of delays. Now, the industry is waiting to see if the plane meets Boeing’s 20 per cent fuel-savings claims.

“If it performs as promised, it’s the iPod of the aircraft world. If it doesn’t, it’s just another CD player,” Mr Aboulafia said.

ANA expects to have seven of the planes in use by the end of the year.

For passengers, the changes start with boarding. They enter into a wide-open area with sweeping arches. There’s an impression of more space, even if seats are as cramped as ever. Another physiological trick: lights gradually change color during long flights to reduce jet lag.