Boeing and Hainan Airlines today celebrated the delivery of the carrier’s first B787-9 Dreamliner of 30 due to be delivered. Hainan becomes China’s first operator of both the B787-8 and B787-9 variants of the Dreamliner family.

The inaugural B787-9 flight will operate from Haikou to Beijing on 13 June, before commencing daily services from Beijing to Shenzhen and Guangzhou. Following the domestic introduction, the new Dreamliners will be deployed on transpacific routes to North America.

Hainan Airlines, the largest privately owned airline in China, leased the airplane through an agreement with Air Lease Corporation (ALC). The delivery is also the first 787-9 Dreamliner to ALC, which has 15 additional 787-9s on order.

“The 787-9 Dreamliner will be a great addition to our long-haul fleet,” said Mou Weingang, vice chairman, Hainan Airlines. “The B787-9’s super efficiency, capability and in-flight experience will accelerate our market position internationally.”
As the largest B787 operator in China, Hainan Airlines already has 10 B787-8s in service and plans to deploy its first B787-9 Dreamliner on a new route from Beijing to Las Vegas beginning in September.

Hainan Airlines, headquartered in Haikou, operates a mixed fleet of 164 aircraft, serving over 500 domestic and international routes.