United Airlines flew its first plane with lie-flat beds for business travelers from Dulles International Airport to Frankfurt, Germany.
The Chicago-based airline outfitted 96 aircraft with the beds. Each plane has 32 beds in first and business class.
United is launching the service from Dulles because the airport, located in Northern Virginia, is a major international hub for the company, according to wire service reports.
United started a route between Dulles and Beijing last year and flies regularly between Dulles and London.
As part of a refurbishment of the wide-body planes, United also said it spent money on new seat cushions, carpeting and higher-quality video screens in the economy sections.
Report by David Wilkening
