New Boeing 787 pıctures
s another delay to Boeing's 787 Dreamliner looms, United Airlines has postponed the start of service from Houston to Auckland, New Zealand, the first North American flight slated to feature the groundbreaking jet.
The new United had planned to begin those flights on Nov. 16, initially under the brand of merger partner Continental Airlines, said Julie King, spokeswoman for the Chicago-based carrier. But with uncertainty shrouding the 787's commercial debut, the world's largest airline decided to push back its New Zealand expansion to 2012.
Boeing's 787 figures large in overseas initiatives at United, which is headed by former Continental Chief Executive Jeff Smisek and which plans to absorb Continental as it integrates operations at the two carriers over the next two years.
If it lives up to expectations, the Dreamliner would burn 20 percent less fuel than other midsize jets but boast the range of far-larger aircraft: 7,650 to 8,200 nautical miles. That would enable carriers to bypass hubs and directly connect city pairs, like Auckland and Houston, that wouldn't generate enough passenger traffic to fill jumbo jets.
But the continued production woes to the highly touted jet are forcing some carriers to scramble. Continental, which merged with United on Oct. 1, was slated to take delivery of six 787s next year, and the two carriers have 50 of the aircraft on order combined.
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