Boeing's revolutionary 787 flew for the first time in December of 2009. Built primarily from strong, lightweight composites, the new 787 is designed to carry 210 to 330 passengers on direct flights over ranges as far as 10,000 miles. The "Dreamliner" is intended to avoid congested hub airports and deliver point-to-point service.

For the first time in history most of the airframe is built by contractors from around the world. Major components are built in Japan, Italy, and Australia, as well as in the United States. Entire fuselage sections and the wings are flown thousands of miles in specially modified Boeing 747 "Dreamlifters" to Everett, Washington, for final assembly.