Warsaw, 2012-11-19 — /travelprnews.com/ — LOT Polish Airlines, as the first carrier in Europe, has added to its fleet the world’s most modern passenger airplane – Boeing 787 Dreamliner, registration code SP-LRA. The aircraft welcome ceremony was attended, among others, Anna Komorowska, the First Lady, and many Polish and international guests.
The Dreamliner, registration code SP-LRA (according to the IKO termionology „Sierra Papa Lima Romeo Alfa”), is the first of eight aircraft that will be added to the long haul fleet of the Polish carrier. The SP-LRA aircraft landed at Chopin airport at 10:51 am after an over 10-hour flight from the United States to Warsaw. The LOT Dreamliner took off from the airport located by Boeing manufacturing plant in Everett, near Seattle in Washingon state.
The Dreamliner is being flown by four LOT Polish Airlines captains: Jerzy Makula, Marian Wieczorek, Jarosław Zimmer and Krzysztof Lenartowicz as well as two instructors from Boeing. During landing the plane was flown by two LOT captains – Jerzy Makula and Krzysztof Lenartowicz. There were also 16 members of cabin crew on board.
After landing, the Dreamliner was towed to the LOT AMS Maintenance Base area, where in a specially set up hangar the main welcome celebration is taking place, attended by high ranking government and state officials. The guests of honor at the event were, among others, Anna Komorowska, the First Lady of the Republic of Poland. The guest list also included representatives of Ministry Of Treasury – Minister of State Mikołaj Budzanowski, Undersecretary of State Rafał Baniak, Stephen Mull, U.S. Ambassador, Henryka Bochniarz, President of Boeing Central and Eastern Europe and Paul Kaye, President Central & Eastern Europe at Rolls-Royce. LOT also welcomed members of parliament, senators and representatives of major government institutions and of Polish carrier’s business partners.
A record number of invited guests took part in the Dreamliner welcome ceremony – about 1500 guests from all over the world, including media representatives who were reporting „live” on the arrival of the world’s most modern airplane. At the SP-LRA welcome Gala, the guests had an opportunity to visit the interior of the aircraft where they were accompanied by eight LOT stewardesses who told them about all Dreamliner’s amenities. They could also sign in the guest book and watch the presentation of the aircraft on a giant screen.
Our dream has come true. The day of November 15, 2012 will be imprinted in the history of our company as a landmark moment – the symbol of our many years’ work and pursuit of change. We have got an airplane which has revolutionized the aviation world – not only from the technological aspect but primarily from the aspect of passengers’ travel comfort. LOT has become a European pioneer in using these airplanes and we are proud that the Dreamliner with the Polish carrier’s colors and logo will be the symbol of the highest standard of service – says Marcin Piróg, CEO of LOT Polish Airlines. – Thanks to the Boeings 787 aircraft, LOT will soon have the newest and the most modern aircraft fleet on our continent. The quality of our services is an additional asset – specially trained Elite Fleet cabin crews, new comfortable classes of service – Elite Club and Premium Club, as well as the unique product on board the aircraft. I am convinced that we will be able to pleasantly surprise our passengers – adds Marcin Piróg.
The LOT Dreamliner offers three classes of service – Elite Club (business) with 18 fully reclinable seats, new Premium Club with 21 seats and economy class for 213 passengers. The aircraft is 56.72 meters long, its wing span is 60.13 meters and the range is 12 000 km. Its cruising speed is 875 km/h.
The LOT Dreamliner’s first commercial flight will be operated to Prague on December 14, 2012. Its first trans-Atlantic flight to Chicago will take place on January 16, 2013. The next flight will be operated to Toronto on February 1, 2013. On February 3, passengers will fly on the Dreamliner to New York, and one month later, on March 3, 2013, LOT Boeing 787 will be welcomed in Beijing.
###