ANA Confirms Domestic Dreamliner Debut

All Nippon Airways (ANA) and US manufacturer Boeing have jointly confirmed that a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner test aircraft will operate a series a test flights across the Japanese carrier’s domestic network to help prove its readiness to enter commercial passenger service. One of the prototypes will make its first appearance in the home market of the type’s launch customer at the start of July, when a cross a four day period it simulate in-service operations across several airports in Japan in a service ready operational validation. This will include flights between Haneda Airport in Tokyo and facilities in Osaka (Itami and Kansai), Okayama and Hiroshima.

Boeing plans to delivers the first production 787 to ANA in August or September but has yet to formally confirm its initial operational plans for the aircraft. During the exercise ANA's maintenance crews will also practice maintenance and servicing of the 787. This will include typical ground servicing activities, fit checks of aircraft jacks and maintenance hangar stands, towing and refueling the airplane, and other routine maintenance operations.