Royal Jordanian’s second Dreamliner flies over Amman

AMMAN — Royal Jordanian Airlines on Thursday received its second Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which will be named after HRH Princess Iman Bint Abdullah II.

The new aircraft flew over Amman at low altitude at around 4pm enabling the capital’s residents “to enjoy seeing its enormous size and long wings”, before it landed at Queen Alia International Airport, according to an RJ statement e-mailed to The Jordan Times.

RJ’s 787 is also known for its onboard specifications, such as bigger windows, wider cabins, state-of-the-art inflight entertainment system and other hi-tech characteristics, which was the rationale behind its name, Dreamliner.

The first 787 joined the RJ fleet in late August and started operating regular services between Amman and London, in addition to serving other routes.

RJ will introduce three more Dreamliners before the end of this year, bringing the total number of this model to five by the end of 2014. 

The rest of the ordered 787s will join the RJ fleet over the next few years, the statement said.

The new addition will serve the airline’s long- and medium-haul routes, replacing the Airbus 340s and 330s, which the company started to phase out gradually in conjunction with the introduction of the new Dreamliners, a step in line with RJ’s strategic modernisation plan for its long-haul fleet.

“The 787 is the world’s most technologically advanced airplane. International airlines are racing to acquire this aircraft because of its exceptional technical and service specifications,” the statement said.

According to Boeing, it has an order of 1,050 Dreamliners to deliver to more than 60 global airlines by the end of 2020, an unprecedented number of orders for the aerospace company and manufacturer of commercial jetliners, for any of its aircraft types.

Boeing introduced the 787 in 2004. The aircraft is built of carbon-fibre composite materials and a powerful electrical system to reduce weight and improve fuel efficiency. 

It consumes 20 per cent less fuel than today’s similarly sized airplanes, enabling it to offer an exclusive eco-friendly performance, the statement said.