AC

United is flying its first 787 Dreamliner home to Houston today in preparation for its first commercial flights on a jet that its CEO says will save on fuel, grow its network and give passengers greater comfort. United is the first airline in North America, and just the sixth in the world, to take delivery of the Boeing jet, which is made largely from lightweight composites. The first flight to carry paying passengers will be on Nov. 4, from Houston to Chicago. "We've been waiting for this airplane for about eight years, so it's a pretty big day,'' United CEO Jeff Smisek told reporters Thursday. "It's very fuel efficient. ... It will make routes that wouldn't otherwise be profitable, profitable. So it's a tremendous asset for us to have.'' United's Dreamliner ultimately will fly international routes primarily, but will kick off service ferrying passengers domestically between such United hubs as Chicago, Houston and Newark. PHOTO GALLERY: United unveils its first Boeing...