Top 10 Operators of Boeing 787 Dreamliner in the World in 2025

SEATTLE— Boeing spent the early 2000s promoting the all-new 787 Dreamliner as the future of long-haul travel. The aircraft promised efficiency, range, and a new way of connecting cities.

But for airlines like All Nippon Airways (NH) at Tokyo Haneda (HND), Qatar Airways (QR) at Doha Hamad (DOH), and United Airlines (UA) at Chicago O’Hare (ORD), the early years were marked more by waiting than flying. Production delays, technical challenges, and grounding incidents clouded the jet’s entry into service, Visual Approach reported.

Photo: Clément Alloing

Airbus Vs Boeing: Widebody Battle

The 787 was born in the middle of a philosophical battle between Boeing and Airbus. Airbus had bet on the Airbus A380, designed to connect the world’s largest hubs with maximum passenger density. Boeing instead pursued a point-to-point model with the 787, emphasizing smaller, fuel-efficient jets flying directly between secondary cities.

That bet paid off. Demand shifted toward flexible operations and efficiency, especially after the pandemic reshaped travel patterns.

While the A380 program was discontinued, the 787 became the flagship widebody of the 2020s. Its design, focused on reduced fuel burn and composite materials, aligned with airline priorities of cost control and operational flexibility.

A Rocky Path to Success

Despite its eventual dominance, the 787’s journey was far from smooth. Development delays stretched years beyond the original schedule, and issues such as lithium-ion battery fires and engine reliability problems led to global headlines.

In addition, production challenges forced Boeing to suspend assembly at times, further damaging confidence.

These struggles meant the Boeing 787 could not immediately assume the role of “winner.” Its reputation carried a mix of admiration for its performance and frustration with its delivery record.

Airlines acknowledged the aircraft’s efficiency but also dealt with disruptions from grounded fleets and postponed deliveries.

Economic Resilience and Market Demand

Even with controversies, the 787 has proven resilient in market value. Aircraft appraisals and lease rates consistently show stability compared to other widebodies. This resilience underscores the market’s recognition of the 787 as a long-term workhorse, despite early turbulence.

Visual Approach research data shows that the 787-10, the largest variant, has maintained strong values and lease rates. Lessors and investors view it as a reliable asset, especially as demand for twin-engine widebodies grows.

Photo: By Julian Herzog, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=39235801

Top 10 Boeing 787 Operators

All Nippon Airways (NH) remains the largest operator of the 787, reflecting its early role as launch customer. Qatar Airways (QR) and United Airlines (UA) have also committed to expanding their fleets significantly. Among the top 25 global operators, only Hainan Airlines (HU) currently has no outstanding orders, though its fleet remains active.

Here’s a look at the Top 10 Boeing 787 operators in 2025:

Key Takeaways:

• All Nippon Airways (NH) leads in total fleet size (83), fairly evenly split across -8 and -9, with fewer -10s.
• United (UA) has a large number of -9s and -10s, but very few -8s.
• Qatar Airways (QR) has more -9s than -8s or -10s.
• Japan Airlines (JL) has a balanced fleet of -8 and -9, no -10s.
• American (AA) skews heavily toward the -10.

The pattern here is interesting: Asian carriers like NH and JL favor smaller variants for regional flexibility, while US carriers like AA lean on the -10 for higher-capacity long-haul routes.

Photo: Clément Alloing

The Dreamliner’s Legacy

What started as one of Boeing’s most troubled programs has transformed into one of its strongest assets. The Dreamliner did not achieve dominance overnight, but through persistence, airline adoption, and market alignment, it became the aircraft that redefined long-haul travel.

From early setbacks to quiet resilience, the 787 stands today as the workhorse of international routes, proving that aviation success often comes the hard way.

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