Is The Boeing 787 A Failure?

The Boeing 787 remains a pioneer of the new generation of widebody flying.

Since entering the industry, the aircraft family has amassed over a thousand orders and is a staple across many airline fleets.

However, the road has been bumpy. Has this made the aircraft a failure thus far, or can it be considered a success?

Why Boeing Launched The 787

Boeing launched the 787 during a critical point in its business as it attempted to find ways to address airlines’ requirements for more efficient travel.

While looking to replace the 767, the jet was also pitted as an answer to airlines’ desire to move on from 747s-400s, some A340s, and other aircraft and opt for a simpler alternative.

Boeing used new technologies, more efficient engines, and other improvements, such as materials, to find ways to allow customers who purchased it to begin efficiently serving different markets that were not previously within reach.

The Many Problems

The 787 has been no stranger to problems since its birth, whether costs ballooning to groundings in the early days.

Throughout the 2010s, one of the biggest stories related to blade cracking and more durability concerns on the Trent 1000 engines, among other problems with the plane itself.

The engine woes worsened, however, leading to extensive periods of 787 jets on the ground worldwide. This left airlines scrambling to secure jets on a lease to temporarily cover the problem.

By the time the 2020s arrived, so did an onslaught of woes at Boeing, ranging from the effects of a global pandemic to quality issues.

These times were hard for 787 operators and equally for expected jet operators. Deliveries continued to be paused for lengthy periods, throwing the backlog into disarray as quality concerns emerged and the FAA imposed airworthiness directives.

In the mid-2020s, after rebounding from the global pandemic, it hasn’t been smooth sailing. Rolls-Royce is in an engine supply chain crisis, which is resulting in challenging engine maintenance.

Furthermore, the acquisition of spare parts has been messy, and airlines have seen their 787s grounded as they await these parts or maintenance. These timelines have also ballooned, wreaking havoc on airlines’ operations and finances.

What About Success?

For all the negatives, the 787 has also enjoyed a whirlwind of success. Upon entering the scene, it became one of the industry’s staples and, arguably, reshaped how airlines operate long-haul flights.

The introduction of the 787 showed that the days of simply relying on a quad-engined aircraft for service were gone, and in were the days of twin-engined planes with truckloads of efficiency.

The 787 has acquired over a thousand orders, which doesn’t look to slow down as more airlines worldwide look to secure the jet’s services with every passing month. Deliveries are guaranteed to continue into the 2030s.

For airlines, the 787 has shined thanks to its flexibility and, thus, versatile nature. Airlines have a wide array of uses for the 787, which is highlighted at airlines such as United.

United, a U.S. carrier, has confirmed that the 787 will be its long-term widebody choice and the lone widebody it flies. The company has every variant of service; however, the purpose of each varies.

Whether it’s high-capacity domestic flying from the West Coast to the East Coast of the US or long-haul flying across the Atlantic or the Pacific, the 787 is more than capable.

Moreover, their versatile nature allows these jets to be swapped over where necessary if a plane encounters a problem that puts it on the ground, even for days.

As a result, from an order standpoint and even simply down to the specifications, these have allowed the 787 to shine through.

While passengers remain critical of features such as the shadeless windows, which can be locked by the crew, the plane’s metrics stack up, and it remains a success.

Is It A Failure?

The aircraft remains a success despite the substantial woes that have affected the 787 Dreamliner since its birth, based on specifications and purpose.

Challenges with engines are not related to Boeing’s core supply chain but fundamentally impact many aircraft types worldwide.

However, from the standpoint of persistent quality issues and an inability to get planes delivered on time, this would be a Boeing issue that would deem it thus far as not a success for some operators.

Some airlines have also had a more challenging period, such as Air New Zealand, which could not escape the Trent 1000 woes in the mid-to-late 2010s and is now impacted by the supply chain crisis.

However, the impact has been lessened for an airline like United Airlines, which relies heavily on multiple series variants, thanks to the number of available units.

Therefore, each airline’s case is different. On paper, the aircraft has been an overwhelming success for many. If issues persist for five years, then this fate will likely begin changing worldwide.

Despite this, airlines continue to commit to the 787 in numbers. The operators committing to the series know this is an overwhelmingly successful aircraft with metrics that align superbly with their desires.

With such a heightened focus on efficiency and sustainability for the long term, the 787’s numbers stack up and are certainly an improvement on previous-generation aircraft.

Thus, on paper, the aircraft isn’t a failure; its specifications make it an industry leader. However, woes inside and equally outside of Boeing’s control have plagued the jet for years, and their impact on airlines differs.