Dream start for ANA

Japan's All Nippon Airways has earmarked the first commercial flights of Boeing 787 Dreamliners from Tokyo to Hong Kong in late October, followed by regular services to Beijing and Frankfurt.

ANA, the inaugural customer for the much delayed aircraft, will also conduct excursion flights departing from and landing in Tokyo Narita airport as a part of a promotional campaign.

The aircraft's first regular international service will start on the Haneda-Beijing route in December, ANA said.

It will be followed by the Dreamliner's first regular long-haul international operation between Haneda and Frankfurt from January, a joint venture route between ANA and Lufthansa.

ANA has ordered a total of 55 Dreamliners, making it the largest airline customer for the aircraft.

Qantas has selected the Dreamliner as the cornerstone of its domestic and international fleet renewal programme. Under the plan, Qantas will acquire up to 100 Boeing 787 aircraft. The first 50 are expected to be delivered in mid-2012.