787-9 enters final assembly phase

Boeing has begun the final assembly on the 787-9 in Everett, Wash.

 The longer fuselage sections are 20 ft longer than the 787-8. Boeing said the -9 will carry 40 more passengers an additional 300 nautical miles, allowing airlines to grow routes first opened by the 787-8.

Air New Zealand is the launch customer for the 787-9, which is expected to operate on the airline’s international network from mid-2014.

(Linda Blachly - ATWOnline News)