Jan. 03--South America's LAN Airlines became the first carrier to fly Boeing's new 787 airplane on an international route from Los Angeles International Airport on Wednesday, beating United Airlines by one day.
LAN Flight 603 left Los Angeles at 2:32 p.m. bound for Santiago, Chile. Starting next month, the airline will also put the 787 on its flights between Lima and Los Angeles.
United will start using one of its 787s between Los Angeles and Tokyo on Thursday. It replaces the larger 777 United has flown on the route.
Boeing has delivered fewer than 50 of the double-aisle jets, which are far more fuel efficient than most of the planes they are replacing. By now, the 787s were expected to be in wide circulation, but Boeing has been beset by production delays. Company officials say they hope to complete 10 new airplanes per month by the end of 2013.
Boeing has about 800 unfilled Boeing 787 orders, company officials say.
- Brian Sumers
Copyright 2013 - Daily News, Los Angeles
