'And Finally' could be the heading

Boeing has delivered the first 787 Dreamliner to launch customer ANA during a ceremony adjacent to the factory where the plane was assembled.  More than 500 employees representing the 787 programme walked alongside the all-new jetliner to present it to ANA executives as a crowd of thousands looked on.

"Today we celebrate a significant moment in the history of flight," said Jim McNerney, Boeing Chairman, President and CEO.  "The 787 Dreamliner is the biggest innovation in commercial aviation since the Boeing 707 introduced the world to passenger jet travel more than 50 years ago.  I want to thank ANA and all the employees of Boeing and our partner companies for the talent, technology and teamwork that have brought this game-changing airplane to life."

During the ceremony, Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO, Jim Albaugh, presented a ceremonial key to Shinichiro Ito, President and CEO of ANA.

ANA and Boeing completed the contractual delivery of the plane on 25 September.  The airline plans to put it into service 26 October.  It will be followed by a further 55 aircraft over the next few years. The current firm order book stands at 821 units. www.boeing.com/commercial

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