How 787 Dreamliner Is Different From Other Boeing Models

A Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner operated by Air India crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad on Thursday, killing 241 of the 242 people on board. This was the first fatal incident involving the Dreamliner since the aircraft began commercial service over a decade ago.

The Dreamliner

Designed to revolutionise long-haul air travel, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner was first introduced into commercial service in 2011 by Japan's All Nippon Airways. It became known for its fuel efficiency, advanced materials, and passenger comfort.

Boeing has received orders for 2,598 Dreamliners from over 80 airlines, with nearly 900 still pending delivery.

How Is It Different From Other Models?

Lightweight

Its standout feature is a lightweight body. About 50 per cent of it is composite materials that help cut fuel use by up to 20 per cent compared to older jets. The design supports direct, non-stop "point-to-point" routes, avoiding traditional hub stops. Boeing says the Dreamliner has already opened over 180 such routes worldwide, which is more than twice what it initially projected.

Spacious Cabins

As per Boeing, the 787 Dreamliner cabin architecture creates a strong sense of spaciousness with its broad entryway, large windows and vaulted ceiling. The 787 cabin is wider than that of the aircraft it replaces, so passengers enjoy more personal space, both physically and visually, as per Boeing's website.

Mixed Fleet Flying

The 787 Dreamliner features a state-of-the-art flight deck that balances commonality with the latest enhancements. New technologies are integrated while maintaining a significant amount of commonality with other Boeing aeroplanes, enabling efficient Mixed Fleet Flying.

Quieter Takeoffs And Landings

As per Boeing, the noise footprint of the 787 is up to 60 percent smaller than that of the models it replaced.  Acoustically treated aerodynamic surfaces make it quieter for surrounding communities, it said.

Variants Of The 787

The Dreamliner comes in three variants:

• 787-8: Seats up to 248 passengers, with a range of 13,530 km.
• 787-9: Accommodates up to 296 passengers over 14,010 km.
• 787-10: The largest variant, carrying up to 330 passengers across 11,910 km.

The aircraft involved in Thursday's crash was a 787-8, the smallest and earliest version in the family. It had 242 people on board, including passengers and crew, and was on a transcontinental route from India to the UK when the disaster hit.

Boeing's Ongoing Troubles

The 787 Dreamliner has faced a rocky path. From early technical delays to mounting production costs, the aircraft's rollout was anything but smooth. Between 2021 and 2023, Boeing had to halt deliveries due to quality control issues, including misaligned fuselage sections and assembly flaws.

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) responded by tightening oversight, and ramping up inspections on Boeing's production lines. Two months ago, in April 2025, the FAA finally gave Boeing the green light to increase its Dreamliner production to seven aircraft per month, up from five.

Challenges continue on the business front. In May, Boeing failed to deliver a single aircraft to China, despite an earlier green light from Beijing. The delivery freeze is widely seen as fallout from ongoing trade tensions between the US and China.

A Safety Record, Now Broken

The Dreamliner built a reputation for safety, despite past technical hiccups. Over the years, it faced groundings and advisories related to battery fires, electrical faults, and engine concerns, but never a fatal crash. That changed with the tragic fall of Air India Flight AI171, the first deadly accident in the aircraft's history.

Boeing issued a brief statement following the tragedy, saying it was "aware" of the incident and was "working to gather more information."

For Boeing, this crash comes at a time when the company is struggling to rebuild trust after a series of safety scandals, including the 737 MAX debacle that led to two fatal crashes.