Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner made its first landing in Germany on Saturday, 25th June 2011 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.”
Greg Delawie, Deputy Chief of Mission U.S. Embassy Berlin: “I am delighted to help celebrate the global launch of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and its first flight to Germany. This is truly a historic occasion, marking the debut of an aircraft that represents the culmination of innovative technologies in design, materials, fuel efficiency, and passenger comfort.
Moreover, it is fitting that Berlin, a city rich in style, engineering and aviation history, is the site for the Dreamliner’s first ever landing in Germany. I would also like to congratulate airberlin as the first airline in Germany to receive the Boeing Dreamliner 787.”
“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: “We are proud to be the first German airline to receive the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. 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, and is certain to prove its worth on long-haul routes”
The test aircraft ZA001 is the first 787 built by Boeing. The 787 stands out first and
foremost for its environmental and cost efficiency, cabin comfort and use of state-of-the-art technologies, with a fuel consumption 20% lower than that of other, 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.
