Boeing's 787 to debut at Dubai Airshow

Everett, Washington: Boeing's 787 Dreamliner is likely to make a debut at the tenth Dubai Airshow later this year, officials said.

"Although Boeing won't confirm it till just a week before the event, I would be surprised if it didn't show up in Dubai," a Boeing official said, requesting anonymity.

"In any case, the Dreamliner would be undergoing flight tests. All they need to do is to take it to Dubai Airshow and conduct a few tests there."

Dubai Airshow takes place at the Airport Expo, Dubai from November 11 to 15 this year.

A number of announcements are expected to take place during the show, to be made by major Middle Eastern carriers.

Airbus' A380 Superjumbo was showcased at the Dubai Airshow in 2005, while it was undergoing flight tests.

The event created a lot of excitement among the airline community. Dubai-based Emirates is the Superjumbo's largest single customer, representing more than a fourth of its total orders.

However, Boeing has only secured 64 firm orders (including 30 from Qatar Airways) from the Middle Eastern carriers, out of the 697 firm orders.

"The Dreamliner's appearance at the airshow will boost its image and help sell more in that market," the official said.

Dreamliner rollout

Meanwhile, Boeing rolled out its latest offering, the 'half-green' 787 Dreamliner, which is 50 per cent made of carbon-composite material and with 20 per cent less fuel consumption, will make it more efficient.

With 0.85 Mach, this is the quietest jetliner to have been built, and will save the airport communities from noise pollution.

"Our achievement in the aviation industry have opened new avenues, helped businesses and fuelled the global economy for more than 50 years," Jim McNerney, Boeing's chairman, president and chief executive, told a gathering of 15,000 people, mostly Boeing employees at the 787 premiere on Sunday.

"With the 787 Dreamliner, Boeing has gathered the best ideas generated over decades and organised a global team spread across the world unified by a common vision."

After half an hour presentation, Boeing unveiled the first Dreamliner, which according to some Boeing employees, is "a dream come true".