Boeing launched the 787-10 Dreamliner at the Paris Air Show today and British Airways will be one of the first launch customers of the new aircraft. The aircraft is more than 11 metres longer than BA’s 787-8s, the first of which arrives next week.
The new 787-10 will fly up to 7,000 nautical miles (12,964 km) — covering more than 90 percent of the world’s twin-aisle routes — with seating for 300-330 passengers, depending on an airline’s configuration choices.
Design of the 787-10 has already started at Boeing, and international partners will be involved in detailed design in the months ahead. Final assembly and flight test of the 787-10 are set to begin in 2017, with first delivery targeted for 2018.
The 787 family’s unique interior offers passengers technologies that make their flights more enjoyable, including large, dimmable windows; cleaner air; higher humidity; lower cabin altitude; bigger stowage bins; soothing LED lighting and a smoother ride.
The 787-10 will share a common type rating not only with the 787-8 and 787-9 but also with the Boeing 777, giving airlines additional flexibility in scheduling and training flight crews.
The second member of the family, the 787-9, is in final assembly at Boeing’s factory in Seattle and is set to make its first flight later this year.
Customer launch commitments for the 787-10 include International Airlines Group / British Airways, with 12 subject to shareholder approval; Air Lease Corporation, with 30 airplanes; GE Capital Aviation Services, with 10; Singapore Airlines, with 30 and United Airlines, with 20 airplanes.