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Boeing has now delivered over 1,000 of its 787 Dreamliner. This meant the 787 beat its predecessor, the 777, to the milestone by seven years. Meanwhile, circumstances surrounding the occasion may have led the planemaker to let it pass by without particular fanfare.
Over 500 orders before first delivery
Boeing has been on quite the journey with its Dreamliner program since it launched in 2004 with a firm order of 50 from All Nippon Airways (ANA). After years of delays caused by issues in the supply chain, worker strikes, and onboard electrical fires, the 787 took its first flight in December 2009. Boeing then finally delivered the new aircraft to ANA in September 2011.
The 787 was the first plane to pass the 500 order mark before the first delivery, as Boeing had already received 677 pre-orders. In 2013, a full 50 of the model were then grounded after the battery of a Japan Airlines 787 caught fire on the runway. However, when it all works, it is an amazing aircraft and a favorite of both airlines and passengers.
By the end of April this year, Boeing had delivered 1,003 of its 787 Dreamliners. Out of these, 376 are of the smallest 787-8 variant, 566 are 787-9s, and 61 are the stretched 787-10. The 787-9 also makes up the bulk of Boeing’s Dreamliner backlog, representing two-thirds of the 486 unfilled orders.
