Paris Air Show: Boeing launches 787-10 Dreamliner

Boeing has announced at the 2013 Paris Air Show that it has launched the 787-10 Dreamliner, the third member of the 787 family.
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Commitments for 102 airplanes from five customers across Europe, Asia and North America provide a strong foundation to support development and production of the newest Dreamliner. 

Customer launch commitments for the 787-10 include Air Lease Corporation, with 30 airplanes; GE Capital Aviation Services, with 10; International Airlines Group / British Airways, with 12 subject to shareholder approval; Singapore Airlines, with 30 and United Airlines, with 20 airplanes.
 
The new 787-10 will fly up to 7,000 nautical miles (12,964 km) — covering more than 90 percent of the world's twin-aisle routes — with seating for 300-330 passengers, depending on an airline's configuration choices. The second member of the family, the 787-9, is in final assembly in Everett, Wash., and is set to make its first flight later this year.
 
"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," said Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Ray Conner. "The 787-10 is 25 percent more efficient than airplanes of its size today 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 months ahead. Final assembly and flight test of the 787-10 are set to begin in 2017, with first delivery targeted for 2018.
 
"Our ongoing investment in the 787 family is well-founded," said Conner. "With the 787-10, we've designed an exceptional airplane supported by an efficient and integrated production system that can meet increasing demands and create new opportunities for us. Our team and our customers are excited about growing the product line and expanding our presence with this family of airplanes."
 
Analyst Saj Ahmad said: “The 787-10 is arguably the worst kept secret in modern aviation history but it brings the best economics of any twin aisle twin engine airplane ever seen. With over a 100 orders and commitments already, the 787-10 looks like it will replicate the success of the 777-200ER family which it is designed to replace and also throw down the gauntlet to Airbus' recently flown A350-900.”
 
Ahmad added: “And with key Arab customers for the 787 like Etihad and Qatar Airways looking to expand, it is likely these two players will at some point exercise their rights to acquire the 787-10 to replace their gas-guzzling Airbus A330 fleets.
 
"Emirates has previously spoken fondly of the 787-10 but has cooled interest due to the emergence of the 777X family - however, it would be reckless to discount them as a potential customer, even though they have yet to order the 787.”