Boeing 787 Dreamliner enters service

Boeing is delivering its first 787 Dreamliner today to Japanese carrier, All Nippon Airlines at a ceremony in Everett Washington. 

EVERETT, WA (Catholic Online) - After more than three years of delay, the sleek ultra-modern aircraft is finally due to enter service with its first passenger flight scheduled for October 21. Boeing says the aircraft will set the benchmark for all future aircraft production and the advances seen on the Dreamliner will be the new backbone for Boeing's aircraft for the next 30 years. 

The 787 Dreamliner is made of carbon-fiber composite reinforced materials, as opposed to aluminum. This new construction makes the plane lighter and more fuel efficient. Boeing designers also worked with psychologists to make the cabin more pleasant for passengers. The windows are larger and darken automatically in bright sunlight. 

Boeing is hoping to regain lost market share which was taken by Airbus SAS in 2003. The twin-engine 787 is already Boeing's best-selling new aircraft ever with 821 orders already in from 56 customers. 

In addition to being more comfortable, the plane's real selling point is its economy. The Dreamliner is said to be 20 percent more efficient and cheaper to operate than comparable-sized aircraft. 

Airlines are hoping the delays are worth the wait. The Dreamliner has seen over three years of delay, mostly due to challenges in working with the advanced composite materials and production.

The delays have forced Boeing to keep over $16 billion of inventory on hand (unfinished aircraft) and they were forced to deliver substitute aircraft to the airlines when contract deadlines weren't met. Despite those setbacks, both Boeing and their customers are optimistic about the Dreamliner. 

Boeing executives has said they are quite confident that the company can meet all future production deadlines. 

With 55 aircraft on order, All Nippon is set to be the largest operator of the 787. Most of its initial flights will be domestic routes, between Japanese cities, but Boeing says the aircraft is ideal for very long routes such as New York to Tokyo. 

Most travelers will start to see the Dreamliner in airports sometime during 2012.

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