The development of the 787 represented a significant advancement in commercial aviation technology. The jets in the family were 25% more fuel efficient than the airplanes they replaced. This came down to engine developments, an expanded use of lightweight composite materials, more efficient systems, and next-generation aerodynamics. Cutting-edge design, combined with good market sense led this aircraft to become the best-selling widebody family of all time.
In this article, discover the scale of what the Boeing 787 has achieved and how it became so popular. You can then learn about the Airbus jet it competes against and the issues faced during the Dreamliner’s operating history that could have prevented it from reaching its present great heights.
Reaching A Billion Passengers
The scale that the Boeing 787 Dreamliner family has achieved is astonishing, most notably that it surpassed 1 billion passengers served this April. That sum has been achieved across over 1,175 jets sold, which have operated over 5 million flights that have accumulated over 30 million flight hours. Currently, 787s run 2,100 flights a day, serving over 520 airports across 85 countries. 425 of these nonstop routes were not served before the emergence of the jet. Such broad distribution is partly due to the aircraft’s fantastic endurance, with each 787 in the sky for over 12 hours a day. There is still more to come from the Dreamliner family, as the jet has garnered over 2,000 orders from 89 customers.
Scott Stocker, Boeing 787 program vice president and general manager, said: “This milestone would not have been possible without the trust and confidence of our customers in operating the 787, and we are incredibly grateful for each of them. The 787 Dreamliner family was designed to connect people and places like never before. Flying over 1 billion passengers in this relatively short time is a testament to how the airplane has delivered on its promises to transform air travel with operational versatility, efficiency and comfort. This achievement reflects the dedication, talent and innovation of the teammates and partners who have brought the 787 family to life.”
With the most widebody jets of any family sold, and an unfathomably large proportion of the global population served, it’s time to ask what accounts for the brilliant success of the Dreamliner.
Advancements Offered By The 787
The 787 first emerged in January 2003, announced as the 7E7. Following the failure to complete the unconventional Sonic Cruiser project, Boeing’s new jet would be focused on proving the greatest efficiency and lowest operating costs for its customers. The completed jet featured 80% lightweight composite materials, including a carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) fuselage that boasted a leading strength-to-weight ratio, the first time this had been achieved on a commercial aircraft.
The advanced airframe combined with efficient jets, allows airlines to choose between the General Electric GEnx-1B and the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000. Not only do these jets require less fuel to operate, but they also have several noise reduction features, such as the distinctive chevron-toothed pattern on the jets’ exhaust ducts.
The table below includes essential specifications for the three 787 variants. It utilizes Boeing’s data:
|
-8 |
-9 |
-10 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Passengers (two-class) |
248 |
296 |
336 |
|
Range |
7,305 nautical miles (13,530 km) |
7,565 nautical miles (14,010 km) |
6,330 nautical miles (11,730 km) |
|
Length |
57 m (186 ft) |
63 m (206 ft) |
68 m (224 ft) |
|
Wingspan |
60 m (197 ft) |
60 m (197 ft) |
60 m (197 ft) |
|
Height |
17 m (56 ft) |
17 m (56 ft) |
17 m (56 ft) |
|
Engine |
GEnx-1B / Trent 1000 |
GEnx-1B / Trent 1000 |
GEnx-1B / Trent 1000 |
The Boeing 787 also comes with advanced flight and avionics systems. The electrical systems require 1.45 megawatts to function, five times that of conventional pneumatic airliners. Electric systems that were previously not conventionally electric include engine start, cabin pressurization, horizontal-stabilizer trim, and wheel brakes. The passenger experience is also more comfortable, as the active gust alleviation system, based on a similar system used on the B-2 bomber, helps ease turbulence.
787 Variants Have Had Different Levels Of Success
The 787 is not a monolith, and some of its variants have been more successful than the others. The 787-10 has just 263 total orders, compared to 1,243 for the 787-9 and 431 for the 787-8. A closer examination of these numbers reveals that the 787-9 variant had much greater success than the others. It has a strong capacity while also having the best range and efficiency of the Dreamliners. It is capable of flying up to 7,565 nautical miles.
That is not to say that the 787-8, the smaller Dreamliner variant, was a failure. It has seen decent popularity as it is perfect for lighter-capacity airlines and those wishing to use the lower maximum takeoff weight to save on landing fees. However, it does have a 250 nautical mile shorter range than the 787-9 as the shorter length necessitated smaller fuel tanks, which has limited the circumstances in which the 787-8 is useful.
The table below shows the top five Dreamliner customers by orders across each variant, according to Boeing data. There have also been 119 orders from unidentified customers that are not included:
|
-8 |
-9 |
-10 |
Total |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
United Airlines |
12 |
188 |
21 |
221 |
|
Qatar Airways |
30 |
85 |
75 |
190 |
|
All Nippon Airways |
36 |
48 |
12 |
96 |
|
American Airlines |
37 |
50 |
None |
87 |
|
British Airways |
12 |
18 |
50 |
80 |
The limited success of the 787-10 comes down to market forces rather than performance. The 787-8’s main competition is the A330-800, a jet that is broadly considered a flop. Yet, the 787-10 overlaps in capacity with some of Airbus’ finest offerings. This includes the A330-900neo, A350-900, and A350-1000. Furthermore, the 787-10’s range of 6,000 nautical miles is 2,000 nautical miles less than some Airbus jets.
What Is The 787’s Closest Competitor?
Boeing’s counterpart at Airbus is the A350, a jet that can match the Dreamliner’s cutting-edge approach to materials and avionics, thereby boosting fuel-efficiency, performance, and passenger comfort. This starts with the airframe that is 50% carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer.
The advancements made by the jet yield a 25% increase in fuel efficiency compared to older Airbus aircraft. The five largest operators of the A350 are Singapore Airlines (65), Qatar Airways (58), Cathay Pacific (48), Air France (37), and Delta Air Lines (37).
The 787 has therefore been substantially more popular on the international market than the A350. Part of this is because the 787 has been on the market for four years longer than the A350. Furthermore, the 787-8 occupies a slightly different space in the market compared to the larger A350. The 787-8 has the perfect attributes for long and thin routes that are bread and butter for low-cost long-haul carriers like Norse Atlantic Airways.
The 787 May Never Have Reached Its Present Heights
Safety issues with the 787’s design may have severely hampered the jet’s success early in its operational life. Just two years after the first delivery, problems began to emerge. This started with onboard lithium-ion fires in 2013. Eventually, all 787s had to be grounded for seven months while Boeing fixed the problems.
A concerningly short time after Boeing addressed these concerns, it found manufacturing defects. First found in 2019, Boeing launched an investigation that caused significant delivery delays. The firm eventually had to halt construction altogether from May 2021 to July 2022.
Safety concerns reignited following the Air India Flight AI171 disaster in June 2025, during which a 787 crashed shortly after takeoff. The issues could have expanded beyond the 787 family had the Federal Aviation Administration not been so swift to conclude that issues aboard the 787 relating to the fuel control switch design, which are similar to those found aboard other Boeing jets, are not a cause for major concern. It told Reuters: “Although the fuel control switch design, including the locking feature, is similar on various Boeing airplane models, the FAA does not consider this issue to be an unsafe condition that would warrant an Airworthiness Directive on any Boeing airplane models, including the Model 787.”
Will Boeing’s Next Widebody Be As Successful?
The next Boeing widebody will be the 777X, a jet that makes the delays and issues experienced during 787 development seem insignificant. But will this aircraft be successful once it finally begins operating?
The market certainly seems to think the jet has a place in the aviation industry. Boeing has already amassed a backlog of 565 orders across the -8, -9, and -8F variants. Notably, none of these orders are from US carriers.
Ultimately, we won’t know for certain if the 777X will be a success on the scale of the Dreamliner until it enters service. We have to continue to wait. Previous estimates for a mid-2026 delivery have been delayed again to 2027.
