Boeing's First 787 Dreamliner Expected to Revolutionize Air Travel

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner finally debuted Saturday after three years and billions of dollars were spent on the plane expected to revolutionize air travel.

The 787 Dreamliner is a lightweight airplane, promising 20 percent greater fuel efficiency to operators than similarly sized planes, reported Reuters. As much as 50 percent of the primary structure will be made of composite materials instead of aluminum, according to Boeing, the world's second-largest plane maker after Airbus.

The plane, with the blue and white colors of All Nippon Airways, is scheduled to be first plane to carry commercial passengers in the 787 Dreamliner series when domestic flights start in Japan this September following certification.

"The plane is being certified to the highest FAA standards," said Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager, 787 program. "But the real focus of the traveling public will likely be on customer satisfaction and the elegance of the flight."

The interior of the first aircraft includes 264 seats -- 12 business and 252 economy -- with personal television sets, roomier seats, an automatic toilet with a wash function, more storage, an arched entry way with a beverage bar, dimmable windows and larger lavatories, said Reuters.

The long delay in delivering Boeing's first 787 was mainly because of snags in the unusually complex global supply chain.

The planes list for about $200 million. The number of orders for the aircraft marks a record for a Boeing plane still in development. Among 827 orders Boeing has taken for the 787 Dreamliner, ANA has ordered 55.

"We intend to use the Dreamliner to expand our business, particularly our international routes, said " Mitsuo Morimoto, ANA senior executive VP-operations and airport services.

"We are aiming to increase our revenues from international operations significantly and the 787 will play an instrumental role in this."