Boeing shows off its Dreamliner in Paris, touts 787-10 deals
Right after Airbus takes its rival A350 XWB on its first flight, Boeing announces customers planning to buy 102 newer, longer versions of its energy-efficient 787 Dreamliner.
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LE BOURGET, France -- Boeing's 787 Dreamliner is getting new competition from the new Airbus A350 XWB from its French rival, but the Seattle company announced commercial successes that will expand use of its energy-efficient jet.
At the Paris Air Show here, Boeing announced that customers have committed to buy 102 of its newest model of the 787, the extra-long 787-10. The company currently only sells the shorter 787-8, which can handle up to 250 passengers, and is in the final assembly for the first the 787-9 model, which handles up to 290.
The 787-10 will accommodate up to 330 passengers. However, its 12,964km range is shorter than the 15,200km the 787-8 can fly and 15,750km for the 787-9.
Boeing showed off a 787 Dreamliner for spectators, aerospace component suppliers, and potential customers at the Paris Air Show this week. For a look, check CNET's Boeing 787 Dreamliner photo gallery.
Boeing had trouble this year with the Dreamliner's lithium-ion batteries that led the company to ground the planes, but they're back up in the air again.
Airbus is countering the Dreamliner with its A350 XWB, which made its maiden voyage June 14. Boeing is bullish that it'll trounce the competition, though.
"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," said Boeing Commercial Airplanes Chief Executive Ray Conner in a statement.
Commitments for the 787-10 include the following: 30 for Air Lease Corporation, 10 for GE Capital Aviation Services, 12 for International Airlines Group / British Airways, 30 for Singapore Airlines, and 20 for United Airlines.
The 787-10's design has started. Final assembly and the first flight are scheduled for 2017. The first delivery to customers is scheduled for 2018.