LAN Airlines, Latin America’s leading passenger airlines, on Aug. 30 became the first carrier in the Americas (and one of the first in the world) to receive the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. LAN will receive 32 of this new aircraft over the next ten years, with the first three to be delivered this year. The $4.9 billion order represents one of the largest investments in the airline's history.

Top LAN executives, Boeing representatives, and authorities celebrated the delivery of LAN's first 787 at an event at the Boeing factory near Seattle including LAN Airlines CEO Ignacio Cueto. The LAN team directly involved in the project was recognized in addition to the over 1,000 team members who were trained over the past two and a half years especially for the delivery and operation of the aircraft.

LAN Airlines’ CEO, Ignacio Cueto, stressed the importance of the delivery for the Company and celebrated the benefits this aircraft will have both for the regional aviation industry and the travel experience of passengers. “LAN is proud to be the first airline in the Americas to receive the 787 Dreamliner,” said Cueto. “This is not only a milestone for LAN, but also for all of our passengers that will experience an enhanced LAN in-flight experience thanks to the cutting edge technology and visionary elements of this new aircraft. The Dreamliner will make it possible for us to cover greater distances in a more environmentally conscious and highly efficient aircraft which will help ensure our sustainable growth.”

The first cities served by the LAN fleet of 787s are Santiago, Buenos Aires, Lima, Los Angeles, Madrid, and Frankfurt. The aircraft will begin to fly commercially over the next few months, and these routes will be added gradually during its first year of operation.

LAN’s 787 will feature new Premium Business class cabin with a full flat seat with the same dimensions of its current seat that includes: an ottoman (feet support), a memory system that records the seat position chosen by the user, and lumbar massage. The new Economy class features reclining ergonomic seats, which have a head support with four positions along with warm colored blankets and headsets that invoke South America. The cabin configuration aboard LAN's first 787-8 will be 217 seats in Economy and 30 seats in Premium Business.

For onboard entertainment, passengers traveling on the LAN Boeing 787 will enjoy high-definition screens using the latest touch technology (nine-inch in Economy and 15.4-inch in Premium Business) and new data ports compatible with Apple devices, tablets, cell phones, digital cameras, and USB devices.