UK’s first airline to fly 787 Dreamliner Thomson Airways named its second aircraft ‘Alfie’ after baby born on flight

2013-07-10 — /travelprnews.com/ — Thomson Airways, the first UK airline to fly the revolutionary 787 Dreamliner, has named its second aircraft ‘Alfie’, after a baby born at 30,000 feet and delivered by cabin crew on one of its flights, after his mother unexpectedly went into labour.

Weighing just 1lb and 1oz, Alfie Delamere was born 14 weeks premature in April 2007, an hour into the flight from Manchester to Heraklion, Crete. He was kept alive by flight crew, and a retired nurse and off-duty ambulance driver, whilst the pilot diverted, making an emergency landing at London Gatwick airport.

Baby Alfie was rushed to hospital for specialist care, before being transferred to his parents’ local hospital in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire.

Alfie – now aged seven – today joined Thomson Airways at Manchester Airport for the inaugural long haul flight of the brand new Thomson 787 Dreamliner plane, named ‘Alfie’ in honour the incredible story of his birth.

Joined by mum, Nicola; dad, Dominic; younger brother Joshua and grandparents; Alfie waved-off passengers flying to Florida on his name-sake aircraft – and also met popular TV star and Britain’s Got Talent judge Alesha Dixon, who joined the Thomson Airways team for the day to surprise holiday makers flying on the Dreamliner to Florida.

Chris Browne, managing director of Thomson Airways, commented: “Alfie’s birth is an incredible story and the whole crew on board the flight that day did an exceptional job, giving an extraordinary baby a fighting chance in extraordinary circumstances.

“I made a promise back then that we’d name this special aircraft after Alfie and remember everyone involved when he was born. We are delighted that we’ve been able to show Alfie the aircraft named in his honour on this very historic day for Thomson Airways.”

Alfie’s father, Dominic Delamere, commented: “After discovering Nicola was pregnant with Alfie, we had to cancel a holiday in the Caribbean and decided to take a short break in Greece instead. It was the first flight I had ever been on and it was certainly a memorable experience that we will never forget.”

“We are really pleased to see Thomson Airways’ own new arrival, the Dreamliner, and it was fantastic to be invited to Manchester airport to watch the its first long haul flight take-off – we can’t wait to fly on it very soon!”

Alfie Delamere, commented: “It was very exciting to see my plane Alfie. I was also very surprised to meet Alesha Dixon and tell her that the Dreamliner is named after me!”

Alfie and his family will be heading off on a Thomson holiday to remember when they fly to Florida on the Dreamliner in the near future.

Thomson Airways is the first UK airline to fly the revolutionary Boeing 787 Dreamliner and will be taking delivery of eight Dreamliners in total, up to May 2015.

Thomson’s first long-haul Dreamliner flights operated from Manchester to Florida and Glasgow to Cancun, today (8 July 2013). Thomson will also fly its Dreamliners from London Gatwick and East Midlands airports.

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