New airplane squawks
Delaying the dream: Are the vaunted Dreamliner's "mechanical issues" anything toworry about?
United Airlines has been having troubles with its new fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliners since the beginning, from delayed deliveries to in-flight failures.
More bad news for aviation enthusiasts came when United put off Dreamliner service on a nonstop flight route from Houston to Lagos, Nigeria, citing "mechanical issues."
"We're having what we would consider the normal number of squawks on a new airplane."
"We are delaying, for what we expect to be a brief time, the launch of the Boeing 787 on the Houston to Lagos route and will continue to operate the 777 on the route," spokesperson Mary Clark told CultureMap via email. United hopes to begin using the Dreamliner on that route in late January.
"This additional time will allow United to work with Boeing to continue to improve the reliability of the aircraft," Clark wrote.
But it's nothing to worry about, according to Boeing Co. CEO Jim McNerney.
"We're having what we would consider the normal number of squawks on a new airplane, consistent with other airplanes we've introduced," McNerney told CNBC.
Despite these minor technical troubles, the 787 aircraft impresses even the toughest of road warriors with its spacious interior and its smoother ride.
United and Continental Airlines each ordered 25 before the companies merged; Houston travelers have been able to experience the aircraft first during an introductory period at George Bush Intercontinental.
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