HOLIDAY airline Thomson has scrapped plans to operate Boeing's troubled new Dreamliner plane weeks before it was due to launch flights from UK airports, including Glasgow.
The aircraft – the Boeing 787 – had been hailed as the greatest advance in air travel since the development of Concorde, with its quiet, fuel-efficient engines and advances in in-flight comfort and wellbeing for passengers.
However, the Dreamliner – which can seat between 210 and 290 passengers on medium-range routes – has been beset with production delays and technical difficulties, and was plunged into crisis in January when the fleet was grounded by US and European aviation authorities amid safety fears.
Thomson Airways was to be the first UK airline to take delivery of the Boeing 787, with eight due to join its fleet. Glasgow Airport was to be the first hub in Scotland to operate Dreamliner flights when Thomson launched a weekly service from Glasgow to Cancun in Mexico and Sandford, Florida, on May 1.
However, passengers who had booked flights for May and June will now be booked on to alternative planes after Thomson announced an "absence of a delivery schedule from Boeing".
A Thomson statement said: "Our dedicated customer service team is in the process of contacting all customers impacted to inform them they will now be travelling on Thomson Airways (Boeing) 767 long-haul aircraft, which have premium cabins.
"The supplement paid for the 787 Dreamliner flight will be refunded to those customers who proceed with their original holiday bookings, and customers will also have the option to amend their holiday without incurring any fees."
The airline added: "We understand how frustrating and disappointing this news will be for those customers looking forward to flying on the 787 Dreamliner. We are equally as disappointed that Boeing was not able to confirm a delivery date for us, but unfortunately these circumstances are out of our control."
British Airways is due to receive the first of 24 Dream-liners in May, while Virgin Atlantic is scheduled to get the first of its 16 Dreamliners in September 2014. BA said it had not received any notification from Seattle-based Boeing of a delay to the delivery, while Virgin said it was still working towards its scheduled delivery date.
Meanwhile, BA yesterday announced tickets were on sale for its first flight using the superjumbo Airbus A380 – the world's largest passenger plane. The flight will be from London to Los Angeles on October 15. The aircraft is capable of carrying more than 500 passengers.
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