The Boeing 787 is Boeing's latest clean sheet design. The aircraft was the first commercial jet to be constructed by Boeing, focusing on the latest building techniques. That is to say that according to Boeing, nearly half of the airframe is constructed from carbon fiber-reinforced plastic and other composites. This offers around a 20% weight saving compared to a conventional aluminum fuselage.

The project was initially known as the Boeing 7E7, with E reportedly standing for Eight. In 2003, the company held a competition to name the model, resulting in the Dreamliner name we know today. A year later, All Nippon Airways placed a 50-aircraft order for the 787, becoming its launch customer.

All Nippon Airways was due to take delivery of its first 787 in 2008. Boeing only rolled out the first Dreamliner on July 8th, 2007 (07/08/07), and the first flight of the model didn't take place until December 15th, 2009. This meant that ANA didn't take delivery of its first aircraft until the second half of 2011.

According to data from aviation data experts Cirium, as of June 13th, 2024, 1,100 Boeing 787s were in service, 35 were in storage, 796 were on order, and 238 were on option. Just seven Boeing 787s have been retired to date.