Boeing will deliver the first 787 to launch customer All Nippon Airways (ANA) on 26 September.

The aircraft will take off from Boeing facilities in Everett on 27 September, and arrive in Tokyo on 28 September, said the Star Alliance member in a statement.

"As launch customer, we are delighted to be taking delivery of our first 787 Dreamliner. This aircraft will enable us to offer new standards of service and comfort to our passengers and will play an important role in our international expansion strategy as we seek to become Asia's number one airline," said Shinichiro Ito, president and CEO of ANA.

"The airplane is ready. ANA is ready. And, Boeing is ready," said Jim Albaugh, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "This airplane begins a new chapter in aviation history."

The first passenger flight of the new aircraft will be a special charter flight between Tokyo's Narita airport and Hong Kong on 26 and 27 October.

ANA said earlier this week that it would begin regular flights with its Boeing 787 on 1 November, with daily services between Tokyo's Haneda airport and the cities of Okayama and Hiroshima.

International operations will begin in December with a once-weekly Haneda-Beijing service. In January 2012, the 787 will be used on a three-times-weekly Haneda-Frankfurt service. More domestic services will be added by the end of the fiscal year.

The airline has ordered 55 787s, and it hopes to receive 11 by the end of this fiscal year and another 10 by the end of the next fiscal year.

Source: Air Transport Intelligence news