United becomes first North American airline to receive Boeing 787-9

摘要

United Airlines took delivery of the first of 26 Boeing 787-9s it has on order. The Chicago-based carrier is the first North American airline to receive the 787-9, which is 20 feet longer than the 787-8. United said the 787-9, which can fly 300 miles farther than the 787-8, will give it "more flexibility and range." The airline will have 12 787-8s in its fleet by the end of this year. It also expects to receive one more 787-9 by the end of the year. United plans to briefly put the 787-9 in domestic service in late September, flying primarily between Houston and Los Angeles, before launching it on 6X-weekly Los Angeles-Melbourne service on Oct. 26.