Originally published July 8, 2007 at 12:00 AM | Page modified July 8, 2007 at 5:16 PM
787 part of All Nippon's Olympics plans
Boeing 787 Dreamliner launch customer All Nippon Airways (ANA) expects to fly Japanese passengers on the new jet to the Beijing Olympics next August.
Seattle Times aerospace reporter
Boeing 787 Dreamliner launch customer All Nippon Airways (ANA) expects to fly Japanese passengers on the new jet to the Beijing Olympics next August.
And it will likely introduce the Dreamliner on its Tokyo to New York City route by late 2009 or 2010, said ANA chief executive Mineo Yamamoto at a press conference in Seattle on the morning of the 787 Dreamliner rollout,.
The airline promises a super-comfortable passenger experience, including bidets in the toilets "to refresh the parts that other airlines cannot reach," said Yamamoto.
ANA takes delivery of the very first Dreamliner in May 2008 and will take six every year through 2015.
Yamamoto also said there are some issues with Boeing's new airplane, but nothing he's overly concerned about.
"Some of the first few aircraft will be a little bit heavier than we'd hoped," Yamamoto said. "But the later aircraft will fall within the weight target. It's not going to be a problem."
Osamu Shinobe, ANA's executive vice president of corporate planning, who heads the airline's 787 launch team, said that "the manufacture of some of the parts is slightly behind schedule."
"However, Boeing has a buffer in its schedule," Shinobe added. "We are very sure they can absorb whatever they need to absorb within that buffer."
ANA insisted that Boeing add some standard features, including a liquid cockpit window-washing system so they can clean the windows from inside.
The airline will fly a short-range, high-density version of the jet carrying more than 300 passengers on domestic Japanese routes and a standard version on international routes with 200 to 250 passengers.
At the Seattle news conference, Yamamoto also offered some good news for Airbus, which has largely been excluded from the Japanese market.
Although ANA's mid-term plan for its fleet to include just three Boeing aircraft types — the small 737, mid-size 787 and large 777 — Yamamoto said he hasn't written off the Airbus A380 superjumbo jet that can carry more than 550 passengers.
![]()
He said he has flown on an A380 and been impressed with the size and quietness of the cabin.
"If we decide the A380 is an aircraft customers like, then we will have to consider bringing the aircraft into our fleet," Yamamoto said.
Dominic Gates: 206-464-296 or dgates@seattletimes.com.
Copyright © 2007 The Seattle Times Company
NEW - 12:18 AM
Microsoft CFO to exit after tough year of cost-cutting
St. Louis exec now boss of all Boeing giving
Saab's fate uncertain after deal collapses
Reform won't take bite out of health-care profits
Facebook's new share structure hints at public offering

New Beginnings Christian Fellowship
Coming in this Sunday's Pacific Northwest Magazine: Pastor Braxton's mission is to preach a message that appeals to everyone.
nwautos
Local riders say they've seen a surge in scooter interest in recent years, mostly from people wanting another commuting option. Seattle now ranks as o...
Post a comment
nwjobs
Post a comment
Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
Do you suffer from "sitting disease"?
Post a comment
- Home break-in ends in shootings, Everett police say
- Steve Kelley | Next Seahawks GM should be Mike Holmgren
- Mariners Blog | Jose Lopez appears to be on his way out
- Amazon, Wal-Mart escalate Web price war
- As glam as he wants to be: Adam Lambert's real debut
- Bellevue Blog | Bellevue residents blast new bikini espresso stand
- Big demand, grim outlook for state Basic Health Plan
- Husky Men's Basketball Blog | An interview with Enes Kanter's coach
- Teen pimp found guilty of human trafficking
- Portland cafe's specialty: medical-marijuana tokes
- Bellevue residents blast new bikini espresso stand
254 - Jose Lopez appears to be on his way out
247 - Big demand, grim outlook for state Basic Health Plan
206 - Next Seahawks GM should be Mike Holmgren
156 - Washington State coach Paul Wulff says he's excited about Cougars' future
139 - Hate crimes against gays, religious groups up, FBI says
91 - Man shoots self at Westlake Center
83 - Some fans at Fort Bragg see themselves in Sarah Palin
82 - Teen pimp found guilty of human trafficking
66 - Portland cafe's specialty: medical-marijuana tokes
50
- Sprouts, raw fish on attorney's 'do not eat' list
- Tattoos at Mill Creek church pierce skin, soul
- Food-safety lawyer's wish: Put me out of business
- Illegal workers quietly let go
- Architects, chefs find 'kid' within to build Gingerbread Village
- Nicole Brodeur | Homeless woman bent on giving
- Portland cafe's specialty: medical-marijuana tokes
- Big demand, grim outlook for state Basic Health Plan
- Hutch gets $10M from Bezos family for immunotherapy research
- Rediscovering Moab, 'the most beautiful place on Earth'





