Europe's First Dreamliner Arrives in Poland

WARSAW -- LOT Polish Airlines on Thursday became the first European company to take delivery of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

In line with aviation-industry tradition, the aircraft was baptized by fire trucks as it taxied to Warsaw Chopin Airport, after a landing broadcast live on Poland's rolling-news networks.

One of eight Dreamliners ordered by LOT, the aircraft was flown from Boeing's manufacturing base in Seattle.

The delivery is four years late, owing to technical problems on Boeing's side.

LOT is due to take delivery of its second plane at the start of next year, and the company's first trans-Atlantic Dreamliner flight is scheduled for Jan. 16.

The financially troubled Polish carrier is eyeing the Dreamliner's lower fuel consumption -- 20% less than that of a Boeing 767 -- as a way to help balance its books.

The first company to take delivery of a Dreamliner was Japan's All Nippon Airways, which began offering flights on the jet in October.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2012