Boeing Co. was to hand over the first 787 Dreamliner on Monday to end more than three years of delays for a plane the company says will become a benchmark for decades in terms of technology and passenger amenities.
All Nippon Airways Co. was to take delivery at a ceremony in Everett, Washington state, of the first jetliner with a fuselage made of carbon-fiber reinforced plastic materials. Struggles with the composites and the manufacturing process had pushed back the jet's entry into service seven times since 2007.
Boeing is counting on the Dreamliner to help it reclaim the top spot in sales lost to Airbus SAS in 2003. The composite body is lighter than traditional aluminum, cutting fuel use, and upgrades such as LED lighting and larger windows are designed to improve the in-flight experience.