Jetstar 787 Dreamliner set to arrive in Australia

AUSTRALIA'S first 787 is on its way home after Jetstar took delivery of the state-of-the-art aircraft in Seattle.

AUSTRALIA'S first 787 is on its way home after Jetstar took delivery of the state-of-the-art aircraft in Seattle.

Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce and Jetstar boss Jayne Hrdlicka were given the keys to the wide-body jet during a ceremony at Boeing's Dreamliner Delivery Centre, a stone's throw from the Everett factory where the plane was built.

The aircraft, which can seat 335 passengers in a two-class cabin, will start service in Australia on November 13.

Review: Inside Jetstar's first 787 flight

It will fly domestic routes from Melbourne to the Gold Coast and Cairns for a month, before switching to the airline's international routes closer to Christmas.

Mr Joyce, who was Jetstar CEO when the Dreamliner was ordered in 2005, said it was a significant moment to be receiving an aircraft that was designed to make long-haul travel easier on passengers and the environment.

"This is a very special occasion for us. It's a magic moment to be sitting in front of this aircraft,'' he said during the delivery ceremony.

"It's a very special moment for Australia, and it's a significant change for the aviation industry because it's a game-changing aircraft that will alter the experience we can offer our customers.''

The 787-800 Dreamliner will arrive in Melbourne on Wednesday afternoon, travelling to its new home via Hawaii, with many of the Jetstar team who worked on acquiring the plane riding as passengers on the historic journey.

A sneak preview of the economy class cabin on Jetstar's new Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Picture: Supplied.

"Jetstar customers will have the chance to fly in a larger and more sophisticated cabin, enjoy gate-to-gate in-flight entertainment, and arrive at their destination more refreshed thanks to lower cabin altitude (that reduces) the impact of jet lag," Jetstar Group CEO Jayne Hrdlicka said.

"The entire Jetstar team is very excited to have the 787 take to Australian skies and, subject to the certification of the newest standard of even more fuel-efficient engines, we expect to have two more 787s entering service by early next year.''

Larger windows positioned to let every seat in the cabin see outside, a fuselage pressurised to a lower altitude, and technology reducing turbulence are additional features designed to take the stress out of long-haul hops.

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Sarah Nicholson travelled to Seattle as a guest of Jetstar.

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