United Airlines is set to start offering their Denver to Tokyo flights on their new Boeing 787 on March 31. They have already started selling tickets for the flights and this will make them the first commercial US flights on the new 787, a model that has been eagerly awaited by airlines. The 787 is a mid-sized, more fuel-efficient aircraft and the very first one was delivered to Japan's All Nippon Airways last year.
Prior to its merger with United, Continental Airlines was planning to be the first to use the 787 for flights from Houston to Auckland, New Zealand. The merger made United Airlines the first to get the new plane. The Denver-Tokyo route seems to be winning out over the Houston-Auckland route due to struggles United is having with Southwest Airlines. United Airline's hub is in George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston and they have been fighting with Southwest over the introduction of international flights from Houston's William P. Hobby airport, which United opposes.
The above article is a summary. Please see the source article at Google News. |