In a fiercely airplane competitive market, Boeing has secured an edge over its French competitor Airbus with the delivery of the first 787 Dreamliner. After three years of delay, Boeing’s latest model was delivered to All Nippon Airways in Tokyo.
The 787 Dreamliner is revolutionary for the airline industry. As a mid-size, long-range model unlike anything else on the market, the Dreamliner will allow airlines to fly direct over long distances in a more cost-effective way, seating as many as 290 passengers. Its flight range is comparable to that of much larger aircrafts – as much as 8,500 miles, equivalent to the distance from New York to Hong Kong.
The Dreamliner is engineered to use 20% less fuel than similar planes, despite being as wide as larger planes and having a top speed of Mach 0.85. The fuel efficiency ensures that airlines will be able to maximize cargo revenue and flight turnaround.
Passenger comfort was also a top priority when engineering the Dreamliner. During flight, the cabin will experience an increase in humidity and pressure, which will alleviate dry air and headaches, common complaints of air travelers. Passengers will have controllable tinted windows and larger overhead storage.
“It’s great. Not having layovers is definitely nice,” commented sophomore language major William Owen. “Having more amenities for passengers is convenient and will make flying nicer.”
Since 2004, Boeing has received 821 orders for the new plane, of which nearly ten percent were placed by Japanese airlines. Boeing currently has over 90 percent of the market share in Japan.
Production of the Dreamliner is currently at a dismal 2 per month, though Boeing officials expect production to increase to 3.5 per month by spring. At this rate, delivery of the first 820 orders will run through 2025.
Production may be slow, but final assembly of the aircraft at Boeing facilities in South Carolina and Washington State will have a positive effect on the American economy. Boeing is predicting a higher profit margin in the long term as more Dreamliners are delivered, though the company will incur short-term losses due high production costs.