Continental Airlines on Monday unveiled a preview of the
Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft interior, which the airline plans to put into
service in the third quarter of 2011 on routes from Houston to Auckland, New
Zealand and Lagos, Nigeria, on the floor of the National Business Travel Association's
2010 International Convention & Exposition in Houston.
The aircraft, long in the making, offers several
advancements that promise to significantly advance passenger comfort. Because
the aircraft will be made from carbon composites that are both stronger and
lighter than metal aircraft, it will be able to be pressurized at 6,000 feet instead
of the current 8,000-ft. standard, reducing the mild altitude sickness and
headaches that affect some passengers. The new construction also will allow the
aircraft to increase cabin humidity to 15 percent from the standard 5 percent
of other aircraft. It also reduces interior and exterior noise by up to 40
percent.
Also significant for passenger comfort is a vertical gust
suppression system that uses sensors in the nose of the aircraft that, similar
to tail dampening systems that currently stop aircraft tails from swaying, will
reduce the impact of turbulence, according to Boeing regional director of
passenger satisfaction and revenue marketing Kent Craver. He also noted that
the Dreamliner would have a gaseous filtration system that would remove such
volatile organic compounds as hair spray, perfume and alcohol from the cabin.
Boeing also has expanded bin space for the wide-body
aircraft to hold four standard-size rollaway bags. Other improvements include
larger windows that can be dimmed rather than shut to allow passengers to look
outside while their neighbors sleep or watch a movie and an advanced ambient
LED lighting system.
Calling it "a game changer," Continental Airlines
senior vice president of worldwide sales Dave Hilfman said the new aircraft
would improve fuel efficiency by 20 percent, reducing costs and lengthening its
range to 8,200 nautical miles. The Dreamliner will be comparable in size to the
767, Hilfman said, and Continental would configure it with 36 business-class
and 192 coach seats. Hilfman said he expected that government approvals for the
aircraft would come in November and that the aircraft will "shift market
share with business customers."
While All Nippon Airlines plans to take delivery of the
first Dreamliner aircraft in the fourth quarter of this year, Continental will
be the first North American airline to receive it and will have a couple of
years head-start on its competitors there. Boeing currently has 55 customers for
the Dreamliner with 847 aircraft on order. Continental has 25 on order, and
expects to have six of them by the end of 2011. United, Northwest, American and
Air Canada also have placed orders for the aircraft, but none are likely to
take delivery for a couple years at least.