Boeing Co. (BA) Tuesday announced the launch of 787-10 Dreamliner, the third member of the 787 family, and announced 102 orders for the plane estimated to be worth $30 billion. The announcement was made at the 2013 Paris Air Show.
Customer launch commitments for the 787-10 include 30 airplanes for Air Lease Corporation, 10 for GE Capital Aviation Services, 30 for Singapore Airlines and 20 for United Airlines. International Airlines Group / British Airways has commitment for 12, subject to shareholder approval.
The new 787-10 will fly up to 7,000 nautical miles, covering more than 90 percent of the world's twin-aisle routes. It has seating for 300-330 passengers, depending on the configuration choice of the airline.
The second member of the family, the 787-9, is in final assembly in Everett, Washington. It is set to make its maiden flight later this year.
Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Ray Conner said, "The 787-10 Dreamliner will be the most-efficient jetliner in history. The airplane's operating economics are unmatched and it has all the incredible passenger-pleasing features that set the 787 family apart as truly special."
Conner added that the 787-10 is 25 percent more efficient than airplanes of its size and more than 10 percent better than anything being offered by the competition for the future.
Design of the 787-10 has already started at Boeing, and international partners will be involved in detailed design in the coming months. 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 interior includes 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 Boeing 777. This will give airlines additional flexibility in scheduling and training flight crews.
Last Friday, the first A350 XWB from Airbus S.A.S., owned by European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. or EADS NV (EADSF.PK, EADSY.PK), made its maiden flight, taking off from Blagnac in Toulouse, France. According to EADS, A350 XWB is the world's most efficient large twin-engined commercial aircraft. The plane is equipped with Rolls-Royce Trent XWB turbofans.
Meanwhile, United Airlines (UAL) said it increased its 787 Dreamliner order to 65 aircraft, including six previously delivered aircraft, with an order for 20 787-10s.
United is the North American launch customer for the 787-10 and it expects delivery of its first aircraft in 2018. The airline has ordered 10 incremental 787-10 aircraft and will convert 10 existing 787s on order to 787-10s.
The advanced technology and composite construction of the 787 reduce fuel burn and carbon emissions, United noted.
Separately, Boeing announced a memorandum of understanding with Air Lease Corp. or ALC to purchase 33 airplanes. The Los Angeles-based leasing company has committed to order three 787-9 and 30 787-10X Dreamliners. ALC expects to begin taking 787-10X deliveries in 2019.
BA, which closed at $103.03 on Monday, is rising 0.4 percent in pre-market activity.
For comments and feedback: editorial@rttnews.com