About the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner
Air New Zealand was the launch customer for the 787-9. Its first aircraft arrived in Auckland in July 2014. Boeing lists a length of 62.8 meters (206 feet 1 inch). That is 6.1 meters longer than the 787-8. The extra fuselage space gives airlines room to fit additional seating or allocate more space to particular cabin sections.
Seating capacity
Boeing lists 250–325 seats for a two-class 787-9. ANA publishes a 375-seat layout for a 787-9 used on domestic flights in Japan, with 28 seats in Premium Class and 347 in Economy. The two figures describe different layouts. The seat map for your flight tells you which cabin plan the operating airline uses.
Cabin layout
ANA’s 375-seat map shows two aisles and a 3–3–3 layout in many Economy rows. In Premium Class, rows 2 through 5 use 2–2–2. Economy rows 44 and 45 have two seats along each side and three in the middle. The same map marks seats 29A and 29K as having no window. Check both the row and seat letter when choosing your seat.
How to recognize a Boeing 787-9
Look for a wide fuselage and one engine under each wing. Boeing lists a wingspan of 60.1 meters for all three Dreamliner models, so wingspan alone will not separate them. The 787-8 is 56.7 meters long, the 787-9 is 62.8 meters and the 787-10 is 68.3 meters. Comparable side views help you judge the difference. If you can see the registration, use it to confirm the exact model.
Variants and related aircraft
The FAA lists the 787-9 under B789, the 787-8 under B788 and the 787-10 under B78X. A booking may show an abbreviated equipment label such as 789. Use the full model name when matching an airline’s seat map to a radar filter.
Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner · Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner
Frequently asked questions
How many seats does a Boeing 787-9 have?
The number depends on the airline’s configuration. Boeing lists 250–325 seats in two classes. ANA shows one domestic configuration with 375 seats.
Is the Boeing 787-9 longer than the 787-8?
Yes. The 787-9 measures 62.8 meters and the 787-8 measures 56.7 meters. The FAA uses B789 for the -9 and B788 for the -8.