The Boeing 787 Dreamliner landed at Heathrow this morning to be greeted by senior figures at British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Thomson Airways, with Thomson declaring it anticipated a first delivery in 10 months.
The 787 will fly on to Manchester and Gatwick before returning to Heathrow on the latest leg of a world tour.
Thomson will be the first UK carrier to fly the 787, with the first aircraft due for delivery next year.
BA is also due to receive its first Dreamliner next year. The accumulated two-year delay in production of the aicraft means the delivery dates for BA remain unclear.
However, Thomson Airways managing director Chris Browne said: “We can’t wait to take delivery of the Dreamliner in about 10 months.”
The 787 is expected to transform long-haul flying, putting previously unserved destinations in direct contact with UK regional airports. Browne said: “It’s fantastic to see the aircraft on UK soil.
“Next summer our customers to Florida and Cancun will be able to fly on the 787.”
Virgin Atlantic chief financial officer Tim Livett said: “We expect the 787 to allow us to operate more efficiently and potentially to expand our range of destinations.”