Article Posted on : - Aug 27, 2011

Boeing 787 dreamliner. A file photo.

WASHINGTON (AFP): Boeing said Friday its new 787 Dreamliner airplane has won approval to fly from US and European Union regulatory authorities.

"It's official! The FAA and EASA have certified the 787 Dreamliner," the US aerospace giant said in a tweet.

Boeing received the flight-worthiness approvals for production from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) during a ceremony at the company's facility in Everett, Washington, the company said in a statement.

"Certification is a milestone that validates what we have promised the world since we started talking about this airplane. This airplane embodies the hopes and dreams of everyone fortunate enough to work on it. Their dreams are now coming true," Jim Albaugh, president and chief executive of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said in the statement.

The all-new 787 Dreamliner, which largely uses lightweight composite materials, promises 20 percent fuel efficiency. The program ran more than three years behind schedule because of production snags.

"The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is an incredible technological achievement -- one that sets a new standard for innovation," US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a separate FAA statement.

"The new engine technology is fuel-efficient and reduces noise, minimizing the impact on the environment."

Boeing earlier announced the first 787 delivery to Japanese launch customer All Nippon Airways in September. The official delivery date will be September 25, but the plane will arrive in Tokyo on September 28.