The first 787 was officially delivered to All Nippon Airways on September 25, 2011, at Boeing's facilities in Everett, Washington. A ceremony to mark the occasion was also held the next day.[150][151] On September 27, the Dreamliner flew to Haneda Airport.[152][153] The airline took delivery of the second 787 on October 13, 2011.[154]
On October 26, 2011, the 787 flew its first commercial flight from Narita to Hong Kong on All Nippon Airways.[155] The airliner was planned to enter service some three years prior. Tickets for the flight were sold in an online auction, with the highest bidder paying $34,000 for a seat.[156] The 787 flew its first commercial long-haul flight on January 21, 2012 from Haneda to Frankfurt on All Nippon Airways.[157]
On December 6, 2011, test aircraft ZA006 (sixth 787 built), powered by General Electric GEnx engines, flew 10,710 nautical miles (19,830 km) non-stop from Boeing Field eastward to Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, Bangladesh, setting a new world distance record for aircraft in the 787's weight class, which is between 440,000 pounds (200,000 kg) and 550,000 pounds (250,000 kg). This flight surpassed the previous record of 9,127 nautical miles (16,903 km), set in 2002 by an Airbus A330. The Dreamliner then continued eastbound from Dhaka to return to Boeing Field, setting a world-circling speed record of 42 hours, 27 minutes.[158]
In late 2011, Boeing began a 787 world tour to promote the airliner. It has visited cities in China, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, United States, and others.[159][160][161]
Data from ANA reported that the 787 surpasses the 20% fuel burn reduction promised by Boeing as compared to the 767. On the Tokyo-Frankfurt route the fuel savings was 21%.[162] As part of this report the passenger experience was also rated. 90% of passengers said it surpassed their expectations and 25% said they would go out of their way to fly the 787 again. Air quality and cabin pressure met or exceeded expectations for nine in ten passengers, and 92% of passengers reported that the cabin ambience was as good or better than they expected. Higher humidity levels in the cabin met or exceeded expectations for 80% of passengers. Four in ten said headroom was better than expected. Finally, the large windows met or surpassed expectations of 90% of passengers. ANA surveyed 800 passengers who flew the 787 from Tokyo to Frankfurt.[163]
Qatar Airways placed its first 787 on display at the Farnborough Airshow in July 2012. The airline was to officially receive the aircraft in August.[164]
On September 15, 2012, the NTSB requested the grounding of certain 787s due to GE engine failures; GE believes the production problem has already been fixed.[165]
On November 25, 2012, it was reported that Air India had requested a team of Boeing engineers come to India to address issues described as "teething problems" with its aircraft.[166]
In the Dreamliner's first year of service, at least four aircraft suffered from electrical systems problems. Boeing CEO James McNerney told media outlets that the problems were no greater than those experienced by the company with the introduction of other new models, such as the Boeing 777.[167] On January 7, 2013, a battery overheated and started a fire in an empty 787 operated by Japan Airlines (JAL) at Boston's Logan International Airport.[168][169] A second 787 also operated by JAL experienced a fuel leak on January 8, and its flight from Boston was canceled.[170] On January 9, United Airlines reported a problem in one of its six 787s with the wiring in the same area as the battery fire on JAL's airliner; the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board subsequently opened a safety probe.[171]
