LAN Airlines has become the latest carrier to receive delivery of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The airline has received the first of the 32 aircraft it has ordered at a ceremony at Boeing HQ near Seattle.

The airline has configured the aircraft with 217 economy class seats arranged 3-3-3. In flight entertainment is delivered via individual 9″touch screens, and the airline has taken the opportunity to update its colour palette with the seating now in shades of maroon and blue. Economy class passengers will also receive blankets on overnight flights with designs and colours being inspired by the colours of South America.

Business class passengers sitting in the window seat will still need to climb over their neighbour should they need to stretch the legs mid-flight, with the seating arranged 2-2-2 configuration. The seats change into a fully flat bed and feature a massage function and 15.6″ touch screens.

LAN Airlines (a member of the Oneworld airline alliance), has completed its merger with TAM Airlines of Brazil to become the largest carrier in South America, expects that the first destinations to be served by the new aircraft will be Santiago, Buenos Aires, Lima, Los Angeles, Madrid, and Frankfurt. The first revenue flight is due to commence within the next couple of months.

A decision is also expected to be made as to which airline alliance (Oneworld or Star Alliance) the merged carrier will remain in, as a condition of the merger with TAM (who is a Star Alliance member) was that the merged carrier must not be a member of both alliances.