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| 787 | |
|---|---|
| Name | Boeing 787 Dreamliner |
| Role | Wide-body jet airliner |
| Manufacturer | Boeing Commercial Airplanes |
| First flight | August 15, 2009 |
| Introduction | October 26, 2011 |
| Status | In service |
787 is a long-range, mid-size, twin-engine wide-body airliner developed by Boeing Commercial Airplanes as the first airliner primarily constructed from composite materials. Designed to compete with the Airbus A330 and Airbus A350, it emphasizes fuel efficiency, cabin comfort, and extended range for airlines such as All Nippon Airways and United Airlines. The program produced multiple variants and reshaped long-haul market dynamics among carriers like British Airways and Qatar Airways.
The programme originated under Boeing's strategy to follow the Boeing 767 and challenge the Airbus A330 market, evolving from the initially proposed Boeing 7E7 concept championed by Alan Mulally and influenced by engineering teams in Everett, Washington and Wichita, Kansas. Key partners included Spirit AeroSystems, Rolls-Royce, General Electric, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, who contributed fuselage panels, engines, and systems. The design incorporated extensive use of carbon fiber reinforced polymer, advanced Honeywell avionics, and electronically controlled CFM International and Rolls-Royce Trent engine options, aiming for reduced fuel burn compared with Boeing 777 and Airbus A330neo. Certification processes involved regulators such as the Federal Aviation Administration and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, with test aircraft and prototypes operating from Paine Field and Boeing Field.
Typical configurations feature two turbofan engines—either Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 or General Electric GEnx—driving a twin-aisle cabin with composite fuselage and wings employing raked wingtips similar to designs used on the Boeing 747-400 and innovations from Lockheed Martin research. The flight deck integrates flight management systems by Rockwell Collins alongside fly-by-wire-derived controls, while cabin systems include higher cabin pressure and Boeing-designed LED lighting to improve passenger comfort on routes flown by Delta Air Lines and Japan Airlines. Range and payload specifications vary by series, with cruise speeds comparable to Airbus A350-900 and fuel efficiency improvements targeted against older types such as the Boeing 767-300ER.
Entry into commercial service began with All Nippon Airways on transcontinental and regional long-haul sectors, followed by operators including American Airlines, Norwegian Air Shuttle, and Ethiopian Airlines. The type quickly established long-range nonstop routes between hubs like Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, London Heathrow Airport, Singapore Changi Airport, and Los Angeles International Airport. Airlines leveraged the 787 for point-to-point services that previously required aircraft such as the Boeing 757 or were routed via hub transfers at Dubai International Airport and Frankfurt Airport.
The programme produced multiple series: a short/medium-range baseline developed for operators like Kenya Airways, a stretched variant for higher-capacity routes adopted by Air Canada and Hainan Airlines, and a longer-range modification competing with the Airbus A350-1000 used by Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways. Each variant offered different cabin layouts, structural reinforcements, and engine-fit options supplied by Pratt & Whitney-contracted suppliers and other subcontractors including Fuji Heavy Industries and Alenia Aermacchi.
The type experienced operational challenges involving Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 and Boeing-supplied systems, prompting groundings and inspections ordered by authorities including the Federal Aviation Administration and the Civil Aviation Authority (United Kingdom). Notable service restrictions affected carriers like Qantas and Japan Air Self-Defense Force operators during investigations into structural and engine-related issues that required airworthiness directives and modifications overseen by EASA. Despite early program teething problems, the fleet accumulated millions of flight hours with safety oversight from national regulators and industry bodies such as the International Civil Aviation Organization.
Major customers include All Nippon Airways, United Airlines, American Airlines, Qatar Airways, British Airways, Air India, and Norwegian Air Shuttle, with leasing companies like AerCap and Air Lease Corporation also holding substantial positions. Launch orders from airlines such as ANA and strategic purchases by flag carriers like Ethiopian Airlines and Kenya Airways influenced production rates at Boeing Everett Factory. Competition for new orders involves Airbus offerings and secondary-market transactions among operators including IAG and LATAM Airlines Group.
The programme featured in coverage by outlets like BBC News, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal during development and service-entry controversies. It appears in aviation documentaries produced by National Geographic and Discovery Channel and has been showcased at airshows such as the Farnborough Airshow and Paris Air Show. The aircraft also influenced popular culture through appearances in films and television series referencing long-haul travel narratives involving locations like Tokyo, New York City, and London.