Super long haul ‘Dreams’ started coming to life this morning for Qantas, when the airline drew back the curtain of a floor-to-ceiling window at the Boeing factory to unveil its first 787-9.
Yes, the Flying Kangaroo-branded Dreamliner we’ve heard so much about over the past year is real, it’s here and KarryOn was there (among hundreds of international media and airline staff) to see it first!
In case you missed it, we delivered the official unveiling to you live on Facebook, click here to check it out or watch it below.
The unveiling was such a goosebumps moment for aviation enthusiasts and travellers in general, it almost rivalled Simba’s unveiling (almost)…
Surely you know by now, but the first of Qantas’ eight Boeing 787s will be a game-changing aircraft used to operate on new super long-haul routes such as that highly popular non-stop Perth-London route (and maybe one day, Sydney-Seattle)
As well as her long range flight potential, the aircraft will introduce new levels of comfort for travellers, which brings us to those first official images inside the plane.
The 787-9 Dreamliner features next generation seating in Economy, Premium Economy and Business Class.
This means, there’ll be more space for passengers to stretch out thanks to a lower passenger count.
Inside there’s larger windows to create a greater sense of space (you’ve likely already seen these in existing 787s, they have the dim-able lighting too).
There’s also better air quality to reduce jet lag and ride dampening technology to minimise the effects of turbulence.
And guests will also be happy to hear that it’s quieter, more fuel efficient and generates fewer greenhouse emissions than similarly-sized aircraft.
Click here to check out more images of the plane on Facebook.
Speaking at the unveiling, Qantas Group Chief Executive, Alan Joyce, said the first Dreamliner signaled the start of an exciting new era for the national carrier and for the travelling public.
“From the distance it’s able to fly, to the attention to detail we’ve put into the cabin design, it will reshape what people come to expect from international travel.”
Alan Joyce, Qantas Chief Executive
“The Dreamliner makes routes like Perth to London possible, which will be the first direct air link Australia has ever had with Europe. And it means other potential routes are now on the drawing board as well.
“There are lots of elements that combine to make the Qantas Dreamliner special. The seats, the lighting, the entertainment, personal storage, right through to the special crockery, cutlery and glassware that weighs on average 11 per cent less.
“We’re working with sleep specialists, dieticians and other scientists at the University of Sydney to see how adjustments to our inflight service can improve wellbeing and help people adjust to new timezones.”
Can’t wait to try out the new aircraft, which BTW KarryOn will! We’ll be on board her inaugural flight this week so keep an eye out for the review.
In the meantime, it’s time to unveil the name of Qantas’ first 787 and it is… Great Southern Land.
The name was chosen out of 45,000 suggestions from the travelling public.
READ: Joyce ready to pick up the keys to his first Qantas Dreamliner in Seattle
READ: Qantas ‘would love’ to fly to Rio de Janiero or Cape Town