Virgin Atlantic Airways is to place its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on the six times per week London Heathrow to Boston, Massachusetts, route from October 28. The airliner is due to be delivered to the carrier in late September. The initial aircraft will be named Birthday Girl to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the airline this year and its paintwork will feature Virgin's 'Flying Lady' logo displayed face-on. Other Virgin Dreamliner routes from Heathrow will be Washington, DC; Newark, New Jersey; and New York's John F Kennedy International Airport, all scheduled to begin by next March. Virgin will be the first European airline to take delivery of the 787-9 - it has 17 on order and the type will make up more than half of its fleet by 2018 - as the carrier retires and replaces older aircraft. Virgin is assessing whether to purchase 787-10s, Airbus A350s or more A330s to fulfil its future requirements. The last of its 20-year-old Airbus A340-300S is due to exit the fleet by next February and in the first quarter will also phase out two A340-600s. Virgin has deferred orders for six A380s by another year to 2018.
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