NEWS BRIEF - Mumbai, Dec. 16, 2009

Boeing's 787 flies - 37 on order to India

The new Boeing 787 Dreamliner jumped off for its three-hour maiden flight from Paine Field in Everet, Wash. on Wednesday.

India's national airline, Air India, has placed orders for 27 planes while Jet Airways ordered 10.

"India has a significant role to play in the historic 787 program," said Dinesh Keskar, president of Boeing India.

The new jet will run on 20% less fuel thanks to its light-weight composite material.

"It's an environmentally friendly airplane," Keskar said, but the savings will help off-set recent losses in the suffering industry.

In 2008 and 2009, "too much capacity was chasing too few passengers," Keskar said, but "I think the worst is behind us."

The 787 is less expensive than the recent 777 model, with a similar seating capacity, but the 787 will not cut into the 777's market share, he said.

The 787 provides regional service, but cannot provide long-range service from India to the United States, for example.

Despite its shorter range, Boeing is confident that passengers will seek out its new platform.

The lighter material allowed engineers to cut larger windows to allow passengers to see more of what is happening around them.

Research indicates that it is largely a lack of awareness that contributes to people's fear of flying, Keskar said.

Another new feature is the mile-high cabin altitude.

Typically, while a jet flies over 30,000 feet, the pressure and air quality in the cabin matches the outside air at 8,000 feet. The 787 offers a cabin altitude equivalent to 6,000', which will leave passengers feeling more refreshed with less chance of airsickness.

So far Boeing has received contracts to sell 840 of the new Dreamliners making it the fastest selling new commercial jet in history, according to a Boeing press statement.