Boeing’s New 787 To Rival Airbus A350

The Boeing 787’s introduction into aviation was met with excellent customer satisfaction.

However, while not directly intended to compete with the A350, it has often been pitted against it.

Now, Boeing has been working for years to offer an improved 787 to counter the A350’s market success.

Boeing’s Journey To The 787

Initially announced in 2003 as the 7E7, the Dreamliner has been a mainstay in the industry for decades, bringing efficiency to long-haul travel.

The series was designed to improve efficiency in aviation. Its first flight came six years after its 2009 introduction, with delivery in 2011.

As Boeing advanced with the 787, Airbus was hard at work with the A330neo and A350 series, the latter a big hit.

Using Both The 787 And A350

While most airlines have opted for the A350 or 787, some have acquired both, each serving unique missions.

An example of using the two series for different purposes is Australian flag carrier Qantas.

The flag carrier has orders for the A350-1000 as part of plans to offer 20+ hour flights. Meanwhile, the 787s offer Qantas more long-haul options and the ability to replace existing widebodies in its fleet.

For Qantas, these two aircraft types will complement each other for years. However, Boeing wants to find ways to better compete in this sector.

A 787 High Gross Weight Variant?

In an exclusive by Leeham News and Analysis (LNA) earlier this calendar year, we learned that Boeing was working on an HGW, high-gross-weight version of the 787 series.

Analysts say it is a variant that, if pursued, would be hugely important for the 787’s long-term future.

The variant would increase the 787-10’s payload, making the type more competitive alongside the A350-900 and potentially taking future sales from the European manufacturer.

Air New Zealand’s Future Fleet Plans

Most sources say Air New Zealand is leading the way on this new high-gross-weight version.

During the pandemic, the airline announced the upcoming retirement of the Boeing 777 series. Although it won’t happen immediately, it’s coming in the not-too-distant future.

The decision will also simplify their long-haul fleet to a single aircraft series: the 787 Dreamliner. They believe this series will take them forward for all their long-haul operations.

If they were to acquire a new 787 variant currently under development, they would see fewer limitations on their long-range services to North America. This would benefit the airline in the long term.

Air New Zealand has commitments for the 787-10 and has yet to take delivery of the first unit.

Interestingly, in 2019, Leeham News and Analysis reported that Air New Zealand committed to eight 787-10s. As part of the deal, Boeing and GE were committed to increasing the maximum takeoff weight.

This variant would be optimised for many other airlines, not just Air New Zealand. Boeing will study and gauge overall customer interest in an HGW variant.

Understanding a 787 HGW Better And Outlook

In some cases, the 787HGW would benefit if airlines retired older, lower-capacity aircraft.

Some analysts even predict the 787HGW could replace ageing 777 aircraft, too. Now, not specifically the 777-300ERs, but rather the 777-200 series. Ultimately, this variant is also ageing significantly.

The 787 re-approval earlier this year further boosts the program.

Talk of a 787HGW has been ongoing for many years, dating back to before the global pandemic. While technical details remain relatively slim, the company’s intent has seemingly been constant.