Avianca to deploy 787 on London route

Avianca, the flag carrier of Colombia, expects to receive its first Boeing 787-8 in the first week of December. The carrier hopes to deploy this aircraft on commercial routes by year-end.

Previously, the airline was expected to take the delivery of the aircraft in September, but delivery was put on hold due to some procedural pitfalls.

The airline has plans to deploy the 787-8 on revenue flights by the end of the year after certification and training in Colombia.

The airline will deploy this aircraft on its routes to London, Madrid and Barcelona. The carrier has plans to replace the A330 with the 787 on its transatlantic routes.

Avianca returned to London Heathrow in July with the Airbus A330, after a hiatus of more than a decade. Currently the carrier operates four times weekly services to London but hopes to increase the frequency next summer.