Take off for new plane
A revolutionary new passenger plane which burns less fuel will fly for the first time from Gatwick next year. It's been built in the US.
The 'plastic plane' set to revolutionise jet travel
The jet of the future has arrived at Heathrow, only fifteen hours late. This is the Boeing 787 Dreamliner's first UK tour.
Exclusive: Plane of the future to visit Heathrow
The passenger plane of the future will touch down at Heathrow next Sunday on its first official visit to the airport.
Live updates
Dreamliners 'can now fly', says Boeing
Thousands of holidaymakers will be getting partial refunds - after being told the new Dreamliner planes won't be ready in time for the busy summer season. Today, Boeing said the Dreamliners can now fly, although it doesn't know when. Transport Correspondent Mike Pearse reports.
Dreamliner safety issues 'resolved', says Boeing
Boeing today confirmed the safety problems with the 787 Dreamliner have been resolved but can't say when British airlines will fly them. We have an interview with Larry Loftis from Boeing.
The company say they are working as fast as possible to resume deliveries. It's not expected that Thomson, the UK launch airline, will get them in time for the busy summer season. Thousands of passengers had booked and paid a £10 supplement to fly on the planes.
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Statement from Thomson
Thomson Airways says it's activating contingency plans to switch customers to other aircraft, in the absence of a delivery schedule from Dreamliner manufacturers, Boeing.
The holiday firm is contacting those affected to tell them they will be travelling on Thomson Airways 767 long haul aircraft.
– Thomson Airways statementThe supplement paid for the 787 Dreamliner flight will be refunded to those customers who proceed with their original holiday bookings, and customers will also have the option to amend their holiday without incurring any amendment fees."
They added: "We understand how frustrating and disappointing this news will be for those customers looking forward to flying on the 787 Dreamliner, we are equally as disappointed that Boeing was not able to confirm a delivery date for us. Unfortunately these circumstances are out of our control."
No Dreamliner for Thomson
Holiday airline Thomson has abandoned plans to operate Boeing's troubled new Dreamliner plane from May.
The aircraft, the Boeing 787, has been having operational difficulties in recent weeks. Thomson had been hoping to start flying the new quiet, fuel-efficient plane in a couple of months.
A lot of the engineering for the plane was done in the south and it was initially expected to fly for the first time in the UK from Gatwick Airport.
Drop in Gatwick passenger numbers
Gatwick Airport has recorded a fall in passenger numbers with 0.8% less people choosing to fly in January compared to last year.
The airport said "economic conditions remain challenging" and the weather was also affecting its operations.
However, it continued to see growth in domestic and long haul markets with 6,800 and 21,900 more passengers, respectively.
Nick Dunn, chief financial officer, said: “In January we saw a slight decline in the number of passengers travelling through Gatwick, which is a reflection of lower European traffic. However this was balanced with growth from long haul airlines serving Asia.
“We are delighted that Garuda Indonesia has chosen Gatwick to operate a vital new direct route to a key high-growth business market.
"Jakarta is also a major hub airport for South East Asia, giving UK passengers even more access and choice to the region.”
Has Gatwick's 'plastic plane' been grounded?
by Mike PearseThe UK launch of the Dreamliner, the so-called plastic plane of the future, is set to be delayed because of continued fears over safety.
Thomson was due to fly its first Boeing 787 from Gatwick in May but delivery of its planes is now on hold.
The first should have arrived in the next two weeks. The airline is the UK launch customer. All 50 of the planes in service have been grounded since a battery fire on a Japanese Airlines flight in Boston last month.
Safety officials in the USA ordered all the Dreamliners to be grounded following safety tests. They will not fly passengers until a solution is found to the problem.
A test flight took place over the weekend but the issue remains unresolved. Experts say a solution could be months away.
The Dreamliner was developed at Farnborough and many components are built in the region supporting thousands of jobs.
Airlines have placed orders for more than 800 of the planes. Made from a composite of plastic and carbon they burn less fuel.
Inside windows are twice as big and the planes have more space. A new air system is aimed at reducing jet lag. Thomson has launched an advertising campaign calling the 787 the "future of long-haul travel".
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Dreamliner: Boeing's most technologically advanced jet
The 787, known as the Dreamliner, is Boeing's newest and most technologically advanced jet and the company is counting heavily on its success.
But since its launch, which came after delays of more than three years, the plane has been plagued by a series of problems including a battery fire and fuel leaks.
Japan's ANA and Japan Airlines are major customers for the jet and among the first to fly it. Both airlines have now grounded their Dreamliners following the latest incident.
The 787 relies more than any other modern airliner on electrical signals to help power nearly everything the plane does.
It is also the first Boeing plane to use rechargeable lithium ion batteries, which charge faster and can be moulded to space-saving shapes compared to other aircraft batteries. The plane is made with lightweight composite materials instead of aluminium.
The US Federal Aviation Administration said it was "monitoring a preliminary report of an incident in Japan earlier today involving a Boeing 787".
Boeing 787 to fly from Gatwick in May
The South's new plane of the future is expected to start flying from Gatwick next May. The UK launch airline, Thomson, said it will be the star of a massive new advertising campaign on ITV1.
United Airlines to fly Dreamliner from Heathrow
The world's newest passenger plane, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner will make its first crossing across the Atlantic from Heathrow in February.
The plane is set to revolutionise air travel with a host of new features.
United Airlines will make the first flight from to Houston from Heathrow in February. It will also fly from Amsterdam in December.
The Dreamliner was developed at Farmborough and components are built in Hampshire, Dorset, Kent and Sussex.
Around one thousand are on order for the plane that burns less fuel and has many passenger benefits including bigger windows, more space and a new clean air system and lighting aimed at reducing jet lag.
Qatar Airways also plan to operate a 787 from Heathrow later this year and both Virgin Atlantic and BA have ordered the plane.
Thomson will be the first UK airline to fly the plane from Gatwick early next year.
Take off for new plane
by Derek Johnson
A revolutionary new passenger plane which burns less fuel will fly for the first time from Gatwick next year. It's been built in the US.
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