Jetstar has chosen Bali as the first international route for its new Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which touched down in Melbourne this afternoon after a 13,000 km journey from Boeing's Seattle base.
Tickets are now on sale for the Melbourne-Bali service will run daily starting Wednesday December 18 "over the summer period", after which two more Boeing 787s are due to begin flying in early 2014.
"We expect to add more destinations, including Phuket, Japan, Hawaii and Singapore, to the 787's flying schedule as we receive more aircraft" says Jetstar CEO Jayne Hrdlicka.
Over the next few weeks Jetstar crew will fly the Dreamliner to the airline's Australian ports on a series of proving flights, which will include 'open days' held for Jetstar staff in each city.
From Wednesday November 13th the Dreamliner will begin a daily service between Melbourne and the Gold Coast, with Melbourne-Cairns flights to follow, before the 787 steps up to commence international services.
Tickets for the Dreamliner’s domestic flights will “soon be on sale”, the airline says, and suggests that prospective travellers keen to try the next-gen jetliner should sign up for email alerts at the Jetstar Dreamliner website.
Each of Jetstar's Boeing 787-8 aircraft will pack 335 travellers from tip to tail, with 21 business class seats and 314 in economy.
Australian Business Traveller understands that Jetstar will sell the 787's business class seats as the highest 'all-inclusive' fare bundle on the flights, which will be identified by a special icon on Jetstar's online schedule.
Read: First look – Jetstar's Boeing 787 Dreamliner business, economy seats
Jetstar has 14 of Boeing's first generation 787-8 Dreamliners on order to replace the low-cost carrier's international Airbus A330s, which will be handed down to Qantas so that the Flying Kangaroo can replace its ageing fleet of Boeing 767s.
By 2015 Jetstar will boast an 'all 787' long-range international fleet, while from 2017 Jetstar and Qantas will have the option to buy up to 50 of the 787-8 and stretched 787-9 Dreamliners.
Read: Qantas, Jetstar and the Boeing 787 Dreamliner – what you need to know
Meanwhile, Jetstar and Boeing have released this video showing how the 787 came together.
The time-lapse clip spans from the weaving of carbon-fibre for the aircraft's composite parts through to the final painting of in Jetstar's livery.
Curious? Set aside the next three minutes and click the video below.
David Flynn flew on Jetstar's Boeing 787 delivery flight from Seattle to Melbourne as a guest of Qantas, Jetstar and Boeing.
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David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
19 Jan 2012
Total posts 427
...and now for the 787 the story we would love to hear...QF showcases brand new 787 on the long neglected Sydney to Honolulu route replacing the woefully outdated 767 product...
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer Plat
21 Apr 2011
Total posts 39
Its happening dont worry! ;)
10 Aug 2013
Total posts 29
You can book tickets on it now guys.
Cathay Pacific - Asia Miles
25 Apr 2013
Total posts 542
For DPS it'll win points over VA's modern but non-787 737-800 flight.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Aug 2012
Total posts 2199
They're both redeyes, though, but I guess a redeye in a 787 would be that little bit less brutal.
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