Article Posted on : - Sep 27, 2011

WASHINGTON (AFP): Boeing and All Nippon Airways Monday celebrated the long-awaited delivery of world’s first 787 Dreamliner air plane to the Japanese airline.

More than three years behind schedule due to production and design problems, Boeing touts its all-new 787 Dreamliner as a game changer for the aviation industry.

The Chicago-based firm says the mid-sized, long-haul plane, half of it built with lightweight composite materials, consumes 20 per cent less fuel than comparable planes its size.

It is the first mid-sized airplane capable of flying long-range routes, responding to passengers’ demands for non-stop travel, Boeing says.

The Dreamliner boasts larger windows, bigger luggage storage bins and improved cabin pressure with more humidity than conventional jets, which Boeing says will allow passengers to arrive at their destinations more refreshed.

Boeing says the 787 Dreamliner is the fastest-selling twin-aisle airplane in aviation history, with more than 800 orders since the programme was launched in 2004.

All Nippon Airways, the launch customer for the new jetliner, with 55 orders, signed the delivery contract for its first 787 Dreamliner Sunday, marking the official delivery.