In the summer of 2019, British Airways took delivery of its first Airbus A350-1000, which represented a huge step forward in the carrier’s fleet renewal efforts. The A350 is not only fuel efficient and a pleasure to fly as a passenger, but it’s also the plane on which British Airways debuted its new Club Suites.
The next step in British Airways’ fleet renewal efforts involved the Boeing 787-10, and the airline just took delivery of its first such aircraft.
I have a hard time imagining that any airline is excited about new aircraft deliveries at this point given what has changed, but I still wanted to cover what you need to know about this plane, now that it’s joining BA’s fleet.
British Airways Receives First Boeing 787-10
British Airways yesterday took delivery of a Boeing 787-10 for the first time, as the airline has a total of 12 of these planes on order. The next 787 is expected to join British Airways’ fleet within the next week. This represents quite a delay, as BA was supposed to take delivery of this plane at the beginning of the year.
The aircraft, with the registration code G-ZBLA, operated the 7hr12min flight from Charleston to London Heathrow Saturday night, arriving Sunday morning.
These new 787-10s will join British Airways’ existing fleet of 30 Dreamliner 787s, including 12 787-8s and 18 787-9s.
What’s Special About The 787?
The Boeing 787 is an incredibly fuel efficient aircraft. It’s known for having a carbon fiber fuselage, allowing the internal cabin altitude to be the equivalent of 6,000 feet, offering better humidity, and reducing the drying effect of the air.
The plane is also known for having big dimming windows, and for being quieter than previous generation aircraft.
The 787-10 specifically is the largest aircraft of the 787 family, so it’s the highest capacity, but it also has the shortest range. This shouldn’t be an issue for British Airways, though, given that the airline doesn’t operate many ultra long haul flights.
British Airways 787-10 Cabins
British Airways’ 787-10s are in a four cabin configuration, meaning that the planes feature first class (unlike the similarly sized A350-1000s, which don’t have first class).
British Airways’ 787-10s have just 256 seats, including:
- Eight first class seats
- 48 business class seats
- 35 premium economy seats
- 165 economy seats
This is a very premium heavy aircraft, as you can probably tell based on the seatmap above.
The eight first class seats are similar to the current 787-9 first class seats, in a 1-2-1 configuration.
In business class there are new British Airways Club Suites, which are reverse herringbone seats with doors. These newly delivered 787s having Club Suites will contribute towards British Airways having these seats throughout their fleet by 2023 (at least that was the plan before the current pandemic started).
It’s funny to see that the business class seats will have doors, while the first class seats won’t.
British Airways’ 787-10 Routes
British Airways’ 787-10 deliveries have been delayed significantly, so the route plans for the plane have been adjusted significantly as well. As of now it looks like 787-10s will operate two long haul routes as of August 1, 2020.
British Airways 787-10 To Atlanta
British Airways will begin flying the 787-10 daily between London Heathrow and Atlanta as of August 1, 2020. This route had been suspended for a while, but was previously operated by a 787-9.
The route will operate with the following schedule:
BA227 London to Atlanta departing 4:00PM arriving 8:15PM
BA226 Atlanta to London departing 10:20PM arriving 11:30AM (+1 day)
British Airways 787-10 To Seattle
Also as of August 1, 2020, British Airways will begin flying the 787-10 daily between London Heathrow and Seattle, replacing a Boeing 787-8. The route will operate with the following schedule:
BA49 London to Seattle departing 3:25PM arriving 5:10PM
BA48 Seattle to London departing 7:15PM arriving 12:35PM (+1 day)
Bottom Line
British Airways has now taken delivery of its first Boeing 787-10. This is something that was very exciting at one point, though obviously with the current pandemic there’s not much fanfare surrounding this delivery.
It’s great that these planes are in a four class configuration, and feature Club Suites. That being said, overall I still have a preference for the A350-1000 in terms of comfort.
You can expect British Airways to start flying this aircraft type to Atlanta and Seattle as of August 1.
Anyone still have plans to fly the British Airways 787-10?
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