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At its final assembly line (FAL) in Charleston, South Carolina, US air-framer Boeing has rolled out the first 787-10 Dreamliner built for launch customer Singapore Airlines.
The airplane will be painted in the airline’s livery before commencing system checks, fuelling, and engine runs before its delivery scheduled for some time during the first half of next year.
The 787-10 is the longest variant of the 787 Dreamliner family and at 224 feet it is almost 38 feet longer than the original 787-8. It compromises flight range for passenger capacity. While it can seat up to a maximum 440 passengers, expect Singapore Airlines to seat between 300 and 330 passengers in a two (business and economy) cabin layout.
Expected cabin layout
We expect the airline to maintain its premium positioning and opt for a wider economy class seat in an eight-abreast 2-4-2 configuration. Most airlines have opted for the bone-crunching 17.2 inch seat width in a nine-abreast 3-3-3 layout on their Dreamliners. Singapore Airlines would also like to maintain some differentiation with its low cost arm Scoot which will operate its Dreamliners in the denser nine-abreast seating.
The airline has ordered the Recaro CL3710 seats for the economy class while the business class seats are by Stelia Aerospace (the merger of formerly Airbus business units Aerolia and Sogerma). It is not clear if the airline will offer its premium economy class in the 787-10s. View pictures of the actual premium economy seat.
Expected deployment
As we had analysed in 2013 when the 787-10 was launched, Singapore Airlines will use the 787-10 on its medium haul routes which it also calls “regional”.
The first 787-10 began final assembly in December last year and was debuted, in front of US President Donald Trump, in February this year.
Do you see the 787-10 coming to India anytime soon? Would you opt for a premium economy seat, if offered? Share your thoughts via a comment.
