Why is the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner so astoundingly popular?
For we airline nerds who get as excited about a revolutionary new widebody jet as the latest Xbox or PlayStation console launch, the runaway success of the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner has been a thrilling sight. This perfectly proportioned plane boasts next-gen technology, unmatched operating economics, and a supremely comfortable passenger experience that airlines simply can‘t get enough of. No wonder aviation analysts predict it could become the best-selling widebody ever by the time Boeing completes deliveries in the 2030s!
The 787-9 strikes propulsion system gold
Leading global carriers such as British Airways, United Airlines and Air Canada are aggressively expanding routes operated by the 787-9 thanks to its superior efficiency and range flexibility versus previous generation widebodies like the Airbus A330 and Boeing 767 it largely replaces.
Let‘s crunch some numbers to showcase why the 787-9‘s bleeding edge GEnx engines and composite airframe enable this capabilities leap:
| Aircraft Type | Fuel Burn | Range | Passengers (2 class) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing 767-300ER | 14,800 lbs/hr | 6,600 nm | 218 |
| Boeing 787-9 | 13,330 lbs/hr | 7,635 nm | 280 |
As the specs show, the 787-9 provides a 10% reduction in fuel burn and 15% longer range despite carrying 29% more passengers. This translates into $2.5 million per year in fuel savings for an airline operating the aircraft on typical long-haul sectors.
It‘s no wonder United is aggressively replacing its older 767-300s with 787-9s on high-profile transatlantic routes like Newark to Rome, Dublin, Barcelona and Paris. The economics are undeniable.
The preferred Dreamliner for flagship long-hauls
The 787-8 may have launched the Dreamliner family and the stretch 787-10 offers additional passenger capacity, but the 787-9 perfectly balances range, capacity and cargo capability for most marquee global routes.
A few headline examples of 787-9 long-haul operations:
| Airline | Route | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| British Airways | London Heathrow-Toronto | 3,470 nm |
| Qantas | Perth-London Heathrow | 9,009 nm |
| Air Canada | Toronto-Hong Kong | 7,004 nm |
With comfortable 240-300 passenger capacity and the ability to fly over 7500 nm / 14 hours nonstop, the 787-9 can sufficiently meet year-round demand on these prominently featured routes without struggling during seasonal lows.
Many airlines have found deploying larger aircraft leads to poor operational efficiency and even losses during parts of the year. The 787-9‘s sizing and flexibility provides better route optimization.
Airlines can‘t get their hands on 787-9s fast enough
The aviation analytics firm Cirium estimates over 75% of all -9 Dreamliner orders through 2028 have already been placed as airlines aggressively move to lock up delivery slots for this category-crushing aircraft.
Some carriers with massive outstanding 787-9 orders at Boeing through 2030 include:
| Airline | Total 787-9 Orders | Delivered So Far |
|---|---|---|
| United Airlines | 38 | 27 |
| Air Canada | 33 | 13 |
| Etihad Airways | 26 | 6 |
| British Airways | 18 | 9 |
Clearly global network airlines are betting huge on the 787-9 dominating international widebody segments for years to come and are willing to withstand near-decade long waits for delivery.
Boeing expects to be building 787-9s into the 2030s, by which point aviation analysts predict it may surpass 1,100+ total deliveries to eclipse the Boeing 777 and 747 as the best selling widebody jet ever.
Passenger surveys rate Dreamliner comfort #1
While loyal gamers may passionately debate Xbox vs PlayStation console superiority like Mac vs Windows users, passenger surveys repeatedly rate the Boeing 787 Dreamliner as #1 in overall comfort across widebody cabins.
The composite fuselage and higher cabin pressure of 787 models translates into a much more pleasant onboard experience for flyers. Key comfort advantages include:
- More humidity means less dryness and fatigue
- True noise isolating windows instead of shades
- Industry leading 32" pitch for standard economy seats
- Spacious high ceiling architecture with soothing dynamic LED lighting
- Clean air filters eliminate odors and reduce symptoms like headaches
In a fascinating AvWeek interview, 787 pilots described the aircraft as "a generation ahead in aerodynamics, fuel efficiency, electronics, systems…the most comfortable Boeing from a pilot‘s perspective".
Given those ringing onboard endorsements from both flight deck and cabin, gamers accustomed to ergonomic excellence and next-gen immersion will feel right at home on a 787-9 Dreamliner!
When you combine all of its economic advantages, range flexibility, right-sized capacity and passenger pleasing amenities, its evident why forward-thinking airlines around the globe have made the 787-9 today‘s ultimate workhorse widebody aircraft.
