Boeing to Delay Launch of Dreamliner—Again

Find tickets, new flights, even lounges

(NEWSER) - Every air traveler armed with a smartphone should load up on these five apps, says the Travel section of USA Today:

• SkyScanner (Free): This app will hunt down the best price for your ticket. It scans not only all of the airlines' websites but all of the online travel agencies (Expedia, Priceline) as well.
• Next Flight ($2.99): Yeah, it's relatively pricey, but worth the cost when needed. If your flight is canceled or delayed, or you just plain miss it, the app provides a list of all available flights from all carriers over the next two days. If none are there, it searches for hotels and car rentals.
• Priority Pass (Free): This app supplies a list of all the lounges at your airport. You can look through photos and amenities before deciding whether to shell out money for a pass.

50 Boeing 777s would be priciest deal ever

(AP) - Dubai's fast-growing airline, Emirates, kicked off the region's biggest airshow today with an order for 50 Boeing 777s, which the US-based aircraft maker described as its biggest single order in dollar terms in history. The list price for the deal is $18 billion, but airlines typically negotiate discounts for large orders. More»

25K people sought tickets for first 787 voyage

(NEWSER) - After years of delays, the aircraft Boeing says is the future of aviation made its first commercial flight today, reports the BBC . The 787 Dreamliner, the first jet largely built from lightweight carbon-composite materials, took off on a chartered flight from Tokyo to Hong Kong for All Nippon Airways, the first airline to own a 787. More than 25,000 people scrambled online for tickets on the 264-seat aircraft as soon as they went on sale. More»

They're trying to convince Boeing to let them install more seats

(NEWSER) - If you’re flying on Ryanair, remember what dad always said and do your business before takeoff. Europe’s biggest airline, ever on the cutting edge of new ways to squeeze money out of its flights, had been considering charging passengers to use the bathroom on its flights, but now it’s decided to instead just remove two of the three bathrooms on each plane entirely to make room for more seats, the Independent reports More»

First plane delivered after years of delays

(NEWSER) - The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is finally taking off—just three years behind schedule. Yesterday, the much-anticipated jet was officially delivered to its first customer, Japan’s All Nippon Airways. With a ceremony planned for today in Everett, Wash., reporters are getting a look at the nifty features that set the jetliner apart, including the biggest windows in the industry, the Wall Street Journal reports. More»