United to start flying Dreamliner from L.A. in January

Airline passengers will get their first chance to fly out of the City of Angels on Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner in January, when United Airlines begins daily nonstop flights to Narita, Japan.

United, the first U.S. carrier to operate the twin-aisle aircraft that will seat 219 passengers for the airline, announced Thursday its first routes for the massive plane.

The service will include flights from Houston to Amsterdam starting Dec. 4 and Houston to London Feb. 4. United will also fly the Dreamliner from Denver to Narita starting March 31.

Flights from Los Angeles International Airport will begin with daily, nonstop flights to Narita Jan. 3 and to Shanghai starting March 30, according to United.

“The 787 is the right aircraft for these routes because of its many passenger-friendly amenities and superior operating economics,” said Greg Hart, United’s senior vice president of network.

The 787 Dreamliner has a price tag of $185 million to $218 million per plane and is the first large passenger jet to have more than half of its structure made of composite materials instead of aluminum.

Boeing has promised that the use of composites and a newly developed engine will result in a plane that burns 20% less fuel than jetliners of a similar size.

The Dreamliner made its initial passenger flight with All Nippon Airways in October, 2011, after a three-year delay caused by design and supplier problems.

Ever since then, the plane has been beset by other glitches. Most recently, a 787 was blamed for starting a grass fire in July during pre-flight testing in South Carolina.

ALSO:

Safety officials looking into Boeing Dreamliner after fire

All Nippon Airways grounds Boeing Dreamliners due to engine issue

Boeing 787 Dreamliner the first of a new generation of aircraft