AIRCRAFT PROGRAM

Long-haul, wide-bodied airliner.

Airframe is 50% composite material, 20% aluminium (wing and tail leading edges), 15% titanium (engines and fasteners), 10% steel (landing gear). Fuselage is constructed from carbon fibre in one barrel section. Carbon fibre is used extensively on the wings, doors, tail and interior. Global suppliers manufactured up to 65% of aircraft with final assembly taking place at the Boeing Everett Factory, Washington and Boeing South Carolina, North Charleston (the latter site only from 2021).

Powered by pylon mounted, interchangeable General Electric GEnx or Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 high-bypass turbofans. Employs noise reducing technology most notably a chevron toothed pattern on the engine nacelles. Low wing configuration with raked wing tips and low drag empennage. Advanced fly-by-wire system with automatically adjusting ailerons and trailing edge. Extensive use of electric systems on board. The no-bleed systems architecture replaces pneumatic systems including air conditioning packs and wing ice protection as well as electric brakes, engine start, APU start and hydraulic pumps.

Two crew in four window cockpit face Collins displays (five screens) and communication systems, Thales integrated flight displays and two head up displays. Large cabin with high onboard humidity, sensors to dampen turbulence and an electro-chromatic dimmable window for every seat.

Type variants

Variant	Launch/First flight	Production end
Boeing 787-8	2004 / 2009		Production: 10 (2019) Deliveries. Baseline variant, typically around 242 passengers.
Boeing 787-9	2010 / 2013		Production: 114 (2019) Deliveries. Stretched variant, typically 280 passengers. Uses hybrid laminar flow technology to reduce drag. Longest range variant.
Boeing 787-10	2013 / 2017		Production: 34 (2019) Deliveries. Further stretched variant, typically around 330 passengers.

Recent news

• 14/04/2026:  Press Release:  SES, Boeing reach milestone toward line-fit offerability for multi-orbit connectivity
• 14/04/2026:  Press Release:  Thompson reveals the perfectly formed VantageXL+ First at AIX
• 14/04/2026:  Press Release:  Unum presents cabin-ready Unum Two
• 13/04/2026:  Press Release:  Recaro Aircraft Seating showcases innovative seating solutions at Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) 2026
• 01/04/2026:  NEWS:  Safran plans €125m aircraft components plant in Wallonia

View full news archive for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

See recent updates (latest 08/06/2026)

Operations data

For detailed information about current charter operators, maintenance and training providers, and completions services for this aircraft, please consult our sister publication Business Air News: Boeing B-787