Boeing’s latest and longest version of the 787, the stretched 787-10, took to the air last weekend as Singapore Airlines took delivery of the first plane at Boeing’s South Carolina factory.
Singapore’s order for 30 of the planes, about 20 feet longer than the 787-9 and carrying 330 passengers, put the project on the map when Boeing was unsure if there was a market for the larger model, back in 2013. So far, 171 are on order, including 40 for Emirates.
The arrival of the -10, a direct competitor for Airbus’s A350-900, and the continuing success of the 777 series in longer flights with 300+ seats continues to cut into markets once served by, or expected to be, the super-jumbos, such as the 747 and A380. Most airlines are retiring 747s from mainline service, and sales have slowed for the A380, with only one customer still ordering.
