Fourteen Years and a Billion Passengers for the Global Dreamliner Fleet

On April 30, Boeing announced that its worldwide fleet of 787 Dreamliners had surpassed a billion passengers carried in the less than fourteen years since its entry-to-service. The aircraft reached this milestone faster than any widebody airliner in history.

"The 787 Dreamliner family was designed to connect people and places like never before,” expressed Scott Stocker, Boeing 787 program vice president and general manager. “Flying over 1 billion passengers in this relatively short time is a testament to how the airplane has delivered on its promises to transform air travel with operational versatility, efficiency and comfort.”

Despite entering service only 14 years ago, the Dreamliner concept had been in the works since 2003. The aircraft, first known as the 7E7, aimed for a clean-sheet, efficient design with a similar passenger capacity to the 767. Engineers used composite materials, new engines, and aerodynamic structure changes to bring their ideas to life.

Three Dreamliner variants were produced, with the 787-8 being the first to enter service in October 2011 with Japan’s All Nippon Airways (ANA). The slightly larger 787-9 followed two years behind. The third was initially supposed to be the 787-3, which was abandoned, and the spot was later filled by the even larger 787-10.

Now, over 1,175 Dreamliners are flying across the globe with 89 different customers. The fleet flies around 2,100 times per day, accumulating nearly 5 million total flights and upwards of 30 million hours in the air. For its latest milestone, 787s have officially carried more than a billion passengers. The plane maker celebrated the moment with a special video to honor all those who have contributed to the Dreamliner’s success.

“This achievement reflects the dedication, talent and innovation of the teammates and partners who have brought the 787 family to life,” Stocker continued. “To every operator flying the 787 and every one of the 1 billion passengers who have flown on a Dreamliner, thank you."

FMI: www.boeing.com