Virgin Atlantic receives first Boeing 787

Virgin Atlantic Airways has taken delivery of its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. The airline is the European launch customer for the stretched version of the 787. Virgin Atlantic's first 787-9 touched down at London's Gatwick Airport today following a more than 7,400 km (4,000 nm) nonstop flight from Paine Field in Everett, Washington.

The airplane, named 'Birthday Girl' in reference to the UK carrier's 30th anniversary, is the first of 16 787-9s Virgin Atlantic has ordered from Boeing. Virgin Atlantic will initially use the new aircraft on its London Heathrow to Boston route.

Based out of London's Gatwick and Heathrow Airports, as well as Manchester and Glasgow Airports, Virgin Atlantic Airways operates a fleet of approximately 40 airplanes. Along with its first 787-9, the British operator also has a Boeing fleet of 12 747-400s operating on routes across North America, the Caribbean, Africa and Asia.

To date, nearly 60 customers from around the world have ordered more than 1,000 Dreamliners, approximately 40 percent of which are 787-9s.

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