Commitments for 102 aircraft from five customers have allowed Boeing to formally launch the extended range 787-10 Dreamliner.
Customer launch commitments for the 787-10 include International Airlines Group/British Airways with 12 aircraft, Singapore Airlines with 30, United Airlines with 20, Air Lease Corporation with 30 and GE Capital Aviation Services with 10.
The 787-10, due for delivery from 2018, will fly up to 7,000 nautical miles – covering more than 90% of the world’s routes for twin aisle aircraft – with seating for 300-330 passengers, Boeing said.
The second member of the family, the 787-9, is in final assembly and is set to make its first flight later this year.
Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and chief executive Ray Conner, speaking at the Paris Air Show, 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.
“The 787-10 is 25% more efficient than airplanes of its size today and more than 10% better than anything being offered by the competition for the future.”
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.