Chile flag carrier LAN has commenced Boeing 787 operations to Australia and New Zealand from its Santiago hub.
The airline’s first flight with the Dreamliner on the Santiago-Auckland-Sydney route took off from Comodoro Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport just after midnight on Friday April 17, with LA801 landing in Auckland little before 0400 local time on Saturday April 18.
The 787-8 CC-BBA was on the ground in New Zealand for about two hours before it took off for Sydney, landing at Kingsford Smith at about 0730.
The LAN 787-8s are fitted with 30 business and 217 economy seats for a total of 247. While the aircraft upgrade offered passengers improved cabin amenities, there is a reduction of 13 seats compared with LAN’s four-engined A340-300s that previously served the route.
The reciprocal LA800 took off from Sydney at 0930.
The oneworld alliance member planned to upgrade the route to the larger 787-9, which are configured with 313 seats, from September.
Qantas codeshares on LAN’s daily service between Sydney and Santiago via Auckland.
