EVERETT, Wash., Norwegian took delivery from International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC) on Thursday the first new Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner marks the 700th aircraft Boeing delivered to ILFC.
Ray Conner, Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and chief executive officer said: "Today's delivery is a tremendous milestone for two leaders in their respective markets.
"ILFC continues to demonstrate its industry leadership as the first leasing company to take delivery of a 787. Norwegian gains a significant competitive advantage by opening its long-haul routes with this airplane."
The delivery to ILFC builds on Boeing's 40-year relationship with the Los Angeles-based leasing company and largest 787 customer with 74 Dreamliners on order.
Henri Courpron, ILFC chief executive officer, added: "We're proudly celebrating delivery of ILFC's first Boeing 787 Dreamliner to Norwegian, our launch customer for the aircraft.
"As the largest customer in the 787 program, we're the industry's leader in bringing the latest technology aircraft to the global leasing market."
Bjorn Kjos Norwegian chief executive officer, commented: "Today marks a major milestone in Norwegian's history. It's with great pleasure we eventually take delivery of our first 787 Dreamliner. Both our many customers and we at Norwegian have been looking forward to this for several months. I'm convinced that our customers will love flying this brand new aircraft with its many customer friendly features. Our goal is to operate the most environmentally friendly and cost efficient fleet, something to which the Dreamliner will significantly contribute."
Norwegian currently has eight Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft on order with lease agreements and direct deliveries. The carrier will use the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft to service its new long-haul routes from Oslo and Stockholm to New York and Bangkok. In November, the airline also will operate the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft to Fort Lauderdale from Oslo, Stockholm and Copenhagen.
The 787 Dreamliner is composed of light-weight composites and features numerous system, engine and aerodynamic advancements.To date, the 787 has accumulated 930 orders from 58 customers worldwide.
