Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner to star at Singapore Airshow
13 Feb 2012
The much-delayed 787 Dremliner from Boeing will star at the Singapore Airshow this week where companies owning private jets and defence hardware would also be present in numbers.
The lightweight and fuel efficient 787 with All Nippon Airways (ANA) as its first customer, was flown in over the weekend in preparation for tomorrow's opening of the trade fair.
Production delays have dogged the aircraft with ANA having thus far received just two of the mid-sized jets, three years after the first plane's originally scheduled delivery date.
Not to be outdone in Singapore, Airbus -- US-based Boeing's European rival -- will display a large-scale model of its A350 XWB, which would still be under development, and is slated for regular service by 2014.
The A350 XWB, a mid-size long-range plane is being touted as using 25-per cent less fuel than similar sized aircraft in use today.
With Europe deep in an economic mess and the US economic recovery yet to gain traction, the world's aircraft makers, major defence contractors and aerospace companies are looking to markets in Asia, analysts say.
