If you fly, you know flying really isn't that fun. But airplane makers are building new planes they say will make flying more enjoyable. The newest is the 7-8-7 Dream liner which stopped by Washington DC. To give VIPs a tour, Phillip Yin jumped onboard to see what all the hype was about.
There was a time when people traveled on airlines such as Pan Am in luxury and style. Today, things are a lot different. We call that economy class. The world's biggest airplane makers, Boeing and Airbus, want to change that. The Airbus A380 entered service with Singapore Airlines as the biggest passenger plane in the world.
Phillip Yin, Washington DC, said, "Boeing developed the 787 'Dream liner', which after several delays has finally gone into service. Airlines around the world have ordered 19 Dream liners, so far. The outside of one may not look a whole lot different from other aircraft, but take a look at the inside. They don't call it the 'Dream liner', for nothing."
Mike Sinnett, chief product engineer of Boeing, said, "The air plane is the result."
Phillip Yin, Washington DC, said, "The airlines that have been losing billions because of high cost of fuel, they’re betting on this plane behind me to help them save money. Boeing estimates that the all-composite exterior, and the latest fuel-efficient engine, will save up to 22% of operating costs."
But with the banking industry still in trouble, volatile oil markets and many parts of the world in recession. Can the airlines really succeed?
Boeing predicts the world’s airlines will need 33,500 planes delivered by the year 2030.