NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. -  Hainan Airlines today takes delivery form Boeing [NYSE: BA] of the airline's first 787 Dreamliner aircraft. The marks the first of 10 Boeing 787 aircraft for Hainan Airlines.

Mu Weigang, vice chairman of Hainan Airlines, said: "Today is a great day for Hainan Airlines as the most technologically advanced and fuel efficient airplane in the world joins our fleet.

"The 787 will allow Hainan Airlines to open new routes from Beijing to North America and provide our unique 'Eastern-style' five-star in-flight experience for global passengers." 

Hainan Airlines will operate the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft on a domestic route from Beijing to Haikou. Thereafter, the airline will deploy the aircraft on its North America routes, increasing the frequency of its Beijing-Seattle, Beijing-Toronto and Beijing-Chicago services, with several new destinations.

Ihssane Mounir, senior vice president of Northeast Asia sales for Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said: "We are pleased to celebrate another historic moment in our long-term relationship with Hainan Airlines

"We appreciate the confidence Hainan Airlines has shown in Boeing and I'm sure the 787's game-changing efficiency and flexibility will support Hainan Airlines to increase its competitive position in the global aviation marketplace."

The Hainan Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft interior consists of 36 full, flat-bed business seats configured in rows of 2-2-2, as well as 177 economy seats configured in rows of 3-3-3.
  
Hainan Airlines is the fourth largest airline in terms of fleet size in the People's Republic of China.  Its current fleet includes 106 Boeing airplanes. The airline serves scheduled domestic and international services on 500 routes from Beijing, Haikou and other operating base on the mainland, and provides charter services.