The Airlines With The Largest Boeing 787 Fleets

The Boeing 787 is a game-changing aircraft in so many ways. For airlines, it offered a capable, fuel-efficient aircraft that could easily travel between continents. It upped the comfort levels by some degree for passengers, offering anti-jetlag features and increased humidity for a more comfortable long-haul trip.

As of May 2024, 1132 Boeing 787 aircraft have been delivered – and 806 remain on order. Many airlines have made big commitments to the type, but which airlines bought into the program to the greatest degree?

All fleet information in this article is based on data from ch-aviation as of early May 2024.

ANA – first to order and the biggest operator with 84 aircraft

Japanese airline All Nippon Airways, or ANA, kicked off the Dreamliner program in 2011 when it took delivery of the world’s first of the type. It was seven years since the airline placed its 50 aircraft order for the plane, and a full three years later than it had been expecting the delivery. Nevertheless, ANA remains the world’s biggest operator of the type.

Related

11 Years Ago Today The Boeing 787 Entered Service With ANA

The Japanese carrier now operates all three variants of the Dreamliner.

ANA has taken delivery of 86 787 Dreamliners to date. 84 aircraft remain in the fleet, with 34 787-8s, 43 787-9s, and seven of the largest 787-10 aircraft. Two 787-7s have been retired. However, its fleet is set to grow to 96 aircraft, with a further five 787-9s still to be delivered and seven more 787-10s.

United Airlines – biggest in the USA with 71 aircraft

The biggest Dreamliner operator in the US is United Airlines. With its vast orders, it will pass ANA to the top. It has received 71 Boeing 787 aircraft – 12 787-8, 38 787-9, and 12 787-10.

It has an impressive 150 more 787s on order. These came amidst a massive order at the end of 2022 for the most widebody aircraft ever in the US. 100 firm orders at the time were boosted by the exercise of 50 more options in October 2023 to give a current order of 150 787-9s. These 787s will join the fleet up to the early 2030s.

Related

United Airlines Places Biggest Widebody Order In US History For Up To 200 Boeing 787s

The Boeing 787s are joined by 100 more 737 MAX commitments.

United was the first American carrier to take delivery of the Dreamliner in September 2012. However, it was expected to move away from Boeing for its widebody needs, as it placed an order for 45 A350-1000, which were later converted to -900s. However, it is not expected to take the earliest delivery of any A350s until 2030.

Photo: Fasttailwind | Shutterstock

American Airlines – 59 aircraft

American Airlines’ Dreamliner fleet comes in at third place in the current standing, with 59 aircraft. These are split between the -8 and the -9, with 37 and 22, respectively. However, the -9 fleet is set to grow significantly in future years, with 30 more aircraft on order.

Photo: Kent Raney | Shutterstock

Before United Airlines’ highest order at the end of 2022, American Airlines was set to become the largest US operator of the type. This, of course, will now not be the case. It is, however, already the largest operator of the smaller 787-8.

Qatar Airways – 48 aircraft

Qatar Airways has risen quickly to become the fourth-biggest operator of the 787. Today, it operates a fleet of 48 aircraft, with 12 more 787-9 aircraft on the way.

Photo: fikrizzudinoor | Shutterstock

Qatar Airway has operated the smaller Boeing 787-8 since 2012. After lengthy delivery delays, the airline finally took delivery of its first 787-9 aircraft in June 2021 (they were ordered in 2016).

The airline maintains a mixed widebody fleet. The 787 may be growing in importance, but the airline still operates 64 Boeing 777 aircraft alongside the Airbus A330, A350, and A380.

Related

Qatar Airways’ Boeing 787-9 Fleet: The Story So Far

The carrier has received more than half of its planned deliveries for the type.

Japan Airlines – 45 aircraft

ANA rival Japan Airlines has a sizeable Dreamliner fleet, with 45 aircraft in total. Of these, 23 are the 787-8 and 22 the 787-9. However, with no more aircraft on order, Japan Airlines is unlikely to remain a top operator for much longer.

Photo: Abdul N Quraishi – Abs | Shutterstock

Once other airlines have received their outstanding orders, Japan Airlines will not even be in the top five. Further complicating this is that six of its former Dreamliners have been transferred to its low-cost subsidiary, Zipair.

Etihad Airways – 43 aircraft

While Etihad’s Dreamliner fleet stands at just 43 aircraft, plenty more are coming. It currently has 10 787-10 and 33 787-9. Eventually, it will have a full fleet of 71 of the type.

Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock

However, Etihad has never shown any interest in the smallest sister of the gang, with zero orders for the 787-8. That leaves the ‘all three models’ club still quite an exclusive proposition. The airlines currently operating all three models are limited to ANA, United Airlines, and British Airways.

Are you surprised by the biggest Dreamliner operators or any of the upcoming orders? Let us know in the comments section below.