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B787-9 arrives at Shanghai Airlines
September 28th 2018
Shanghai Airlines, a China Eastern Airlines subsidiary, has taken delivery of its first B787-9. Read More » The airline plans to operate its newest plane to Japan and South Korea, before launching long-haul services to destinations yet to be announced.
The airline’s B787s are equipped with four first class and 26 business class suites, both with sliding doors, and 28 premium economy and 227 economy class seats. First and premium economy are new service offerings for Shanghai Airlines.
The four first class suites will not be separated by partitioning from the business class cabin and will be the same product except for significantly larger IFE screens in the first class area.
It is unclear how many B787s Shanghai Airlines will receive. The airline has never officially placed an order with Boeing for the airplanes. It is expected the B787s will come from parent China Eastern’s order book with the U.S. manufacturer. The OEM this week said Shanghai Airlines would “receive additional 787-9s in coming years”.
China Eastern ordered 15 B787-9s in 2016. At the time, it said the B787 would “play a key role in supporting China Eastern’s international expansion” and would enable the carrier “to realize profits in point-to-point routes across the Pacific and between China and Europe”. It is not known if Shanghai Airlines will take all 15 -9s. Some of the planes may be destined for China Eastern.
Shanghai Airlines serves more than 140 domestic and regional destinations with five A330s, 91 B737s, including eight MAXs, and two B767-300ERs.
The airline was a Star Alliance member from 2007 to 2010, before it defected to SkyTeam after it merged with China Eastern.
“We are so excited to take delivery of the very first Dreamliner for Shanghai Airlines, as well as the China Eastern Group,” said China Eastern Group vice president, Li Yangmin. “With the introduction of these new airplanes, China Eastern Group will officially launch the global leading new generation passenger service system. We are confident all these efforts will help us significantly upgrade our services and we know our passengers will love it.”
“We are thrilled to expand our long-standing partnership with Shanghai Airlines and the China Eastern Group. The 787 Dreamliner's performance, operating economics and comfort make it the perfect airplane for Shanghai Airlines to expand and enhance their international network,” said senior vice president of commercial sales and marketing for The Boeing Company, Ihssane Mounir.
