Successful 787 dreamliner landing may spell end of United 747

The long-awaited Boeing 787 Dreamliner's successful landing at Boeing Field after a rainy test flight in Seattle today marks the official introduction of the advanced pssenger airplane. It also marks the eventual end of the 747 as used by United Airlines. Here's a video of today's events:





Two weeks ago, UAL announced the purchase of a fleet of both the 787 Dreamliner and the new Airbus-350. In a communication to employees on its website, UAL also explained that the new planes would be used on international routes.

Currently, United uses its 747 fleet almost exclusively for international flights, meaning that by 2019, when the airline is expected to take delivery of both the 787 and the A-350, they plan to phase-out the giant jumbo jet.

Today, United Airlines' President John Tague issued this statement:

The Dreamliner is going to be a tremendous addition to our fleet, providing our customers with a better travel experience in the cabin and new technology that reduces our impact on the environment, increases fuel efficiency and provides cost savings. This is a great day, and we congratulate Boeing on the success of the test flight and look forward to our continued partnership with them and continued success as they bring the aircraft online."

When asked why United didn't purchase the larger A-380 or the newer-generation of 747-8, United's Tague said "Our objective is to optimize the company's performance in the down cycle and to manage the down-side risk, not to capture every last dollar of opportunity that an extremely large aircraft might create for a short period of time."

But some industry watchers say both the A-350 and the 787 are too small to replace the 747-400, so United may be making a hedge bet for the future just to maintain its international routes. Still at some point United need to make a decision on what to do about the 747 program. Meanwhile it awaits the 787.

As I wrote before, the 787 is an exciting airplane with cool new push-button window shade technology. The problem is one has to reach over a sleeping window seat passenger to get to the button.

Stay tuned.