‘Dream’ Boeing set for take off

BOEING’S long-awaited dream machine became a commercial reality on Sunday when the lightweight plastic-composites 787 Dreamliner was formally delivered to its first Japanese customer.

Boeing says the revolutionary carbon fibre design will hand 20% fuel savings to airlines and give passengers a more comfortable ride with better cabin air and large, electronically dimmable windows.

The first $200 million (€148m) aircraft was handed over to Japanese carrier All Nippon Airways, three years behind schedule after persistent delays that cost Boeing billions of dollars.