Tokyo toasts Dreamliner's maiden flight
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Three years late, billions of dollars over budget and carrying passengers who willingly paid over the odds for their tickets, the plane dubbed by some the most efficient in the sky took off from Tokyo yesterday on its first commercial flight.
The 264-seat Boeing Dreamliner was toasted with sake at Narita airport and touched down in Hong Kong to drums and dancing Chinese lions after a four-and-a-half-hour flight.
"It's a little piece of history," said passenger Stephanie Wood, after stepping from the All Nippon Airways flight in Hong Kong. "New cars come out all the time, but how often do new planes come out?"
She was one of several travellers who had paid up to 10 times the normal price for business class seats auctioned for charity. The highest amount paid was $30,000 (£18,850), but most passengers paid just over $1,000 for an economy seat.
Boeing claims the plane's quieter engines and higher cabin pressure ease headaches, tiredness and dry eyes.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments