Boeing has delivered Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, the first 787-9 Dreamliner. Etihad has ordered a total of 71 Dreamliners, which will eventually include both the 787-9 and 787-10 models. Etihad is the first airline in the Middle East to operate a 787-9.
The new 787-9 has a color-scheme inspired by the desert and the local culture of the UAE.
"We are confident that the additions of the 787 Dreamliner to our growing fleet will enable us to continue to add vital long-haul destinations from our Abu Dhabi hub," said Peter Baumgartner, chief commercial officer for Etihad Airways.
The airline plans to fly the new plane to Dusseldorf, Washington D.C., Mumbai, Brisbane and Moscow.
The 787-9 can carry 280 passengers about 8,000 nautical miles, and the 787-10 can accommodate 323 passengers for 7,000 nautical miles. The 787 models will save the airline fuel, because they use 20 to 30 percent less fuel than the aircraft they are replacing.
"We are excited to see the 787 footprint grow in the Middle East with airlines such as Etihad Airways investing in the Dreamliner as part of their fleet strategy," said Marty Bentrott, vice president of sales for Boeing Commercial Airplanes in the Middle East, Russia and Central Asia.
As of the end of November 2014, Boeing has received a total of 1,055 orders for the 787 models.