Boeing 787 Dreamliner: Cost, Seat Map, Safety & India Operations

1. What Is the Boeing 787 Dreamliner?

• Revolutionary Features:
  • 20% more fuel-efficient than similar-sized planes.
  • Composite materials (carbon fiber) reduce weight.
  • Larger windows with electrochromic dimming.
  • Lower cabin altitude = reduced jet lag.

2. Dreamliner Cost: How Expensive Is It?

• List Price (2024): $248–338 million (varies by model).
• Actual Purchase Cost: Airlines negotiate discounts (~40% off list price).
• Lease Price: $700,000–$1.2 million/month.
• India Connection: Air India paid $1.7 billion for 27 Dreamliners in 2006.

3. Boeing 787 Seat Map & Cabin Layout

Typical Configurations:

Class	787-8	787-9	787-10
Economy	210–250	250–290	300–330
Business	30–40	40–50	50–60
Premium Economy	Optional	Common	Standard

India Example:

• Air India 787-8: 18 Business / 238 Economy.
• Vistara 787-9: 30 Business / 36 Premium Economy / 248 Economy.

4. Dreamliner in India: Which Airlines Use It?

• Air India: 27 Dreamliners (long-haul routes like Delhi-USA).
• Vistara: 6 Dreamliners (Mumbai-London, Delhi-Frankfurt).
• Past Users: Jet Airways (phased out after bankruptcy).

5. Boeing 787 Crashes & Safety Record

• Major Incidents:
  • Ahmedabad Airline Crash(2025) – Details to be shared soon
  • Battery Fires (2013): Grounded globally for 4 months (fixed with redesign).
  • Engine Failures: Minor RR Trent 1000 issues (now resolved).
  • Safety Rating: 9.7/10 by AirlineRatings (same as A350).

6. Why Pilots & Passengers Love the 787

Pilots:

• Advanced HUD (Head-Up Display) for low-visibility landings.
• Smoother ride due to Gust Suppression System.

Passengers:

• 16% higher humidity = no dry skin/eyes.
• Quieter engines (60% less noise than older planes).

7. Dreamliner vs. Airbus A350: Key Differences

Feature	787 Dreamliner	A350
Range	7,530–8,000 nm	8,700 nm
Seats	240–330	300–410
Cost	$248M–$338M	$317M–$366M
India Users	Air India, Vistara	None (yet)

8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Is the Dreamliner safe after battery fires?

✅ Yes! Redesigned batteries in 2014—zero issues since.

Q: Which Dreamliner model is best for airlines?

📊 787-9: Best balance of range & capacity (used by Air India/Vistara).

Q: Why don’t IndiGo or SpiceJet fly Dreamliners?

💸 Too expensive—they prefer smaller A320s for short-haul routes.