Xiamen Airlines Celebrate Airline's First 787 Dreamliner

Courtesy Boeing

EVERETT, Wash /PRNewswire/ — Boeing (NYSE: BA) and Xiamen Airlines celebrated the delivery of the airline’s first 787 Dreamliner. “We are excited to receive our first 787 Dreamliner which is also the first widebody airplane of our all-Boeing fleet,” said Che Shanglun, president and chairman of Xiamen Airlines.

With the delivery of its first 787-8, Xiamen Airlines becomes the third Chinese airline to operate the 787. The airline will use the 787 on long-haul routes from its Fujian province base to Europe, North America and Australia.

Formed in 1984 as China’s first joint venture between the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and a municipal government, Xiamen Airlines started services in 1985 with two 737-200s serving three cities. The carrier has grown into China’s sixth largest airline serving 218 domestic routes and 26 international and regional routes.

As part of Xiamen Airlines’ 12th five-year plan ending 2015, the carrier plans to grow its fleet to 150 airplanes, including six 787s. The 787 is the most advanced airplane in commercial aviation and will help Xiamen Airlines develop more point-to-point routes globally, while also establishing the airline as an emerging force in the commercial aviation market.

Xiamen Airlines is China’s only all-Boeing carrier. In November 2013, the airline took delivery of its 100th Boeing airplane, a Next-Generation 737-800. Xiamen Airlines has a total of six 787s on order.

Source Boeing / Edited By Airline Adviser 08/31/14