Virgin Atlantic (VS, London Heathrow) has taken delivery of its first B787-9 following a handing over ceremony at Everett last week. G-VNEW (msn 40956) arrived at London Gatwick this weekend and is the first of sixteen of the type Virgin has on order from Boeing (BOE, Washington National).

The aircraft is set to be deployed on Virgin's flights to Boston from October 28 onwards founder Richard Branson announced in June this year. The second of the type, scheduled to arrive in December, will be used on London Heathrow to Washington Dulles flights while the third and fourth aircraft, due in January and February 2015, will be used to serve New York Newark and New York JFK respectively.

With its entry into service expected in 2018, Branson has said Virgin is also studying a possible order for the larger B787-10 which will seat 323 passengers as opposed to 280 in the B787-9.