From left: Jack Jones, general manager, Boeing South Carolina, Air India Captain A. S. Soman, Dinesh Keskar, senior vice president of Asia Pacific & India sales for Boeing Commercial Airplanes, and M. L. Franklin, Air India technical team leader, cut the ceremonial ribbon earlier

Boeing and Air India are celebrating the delivery of the airline’s first 787 Dreamliner.

“Today is a great day for Air India as the most technologically advanced and fuel efficient airplane in the world joins our fleet,” said Rohit Nandan, Air India chairman.

“The 787 will allow Air India to open new routes in a dynamic marketplace and provide the best in-flight experience for our passengers.”

Air India is only the fifth airline in the world to take delivery of a 787 Dreamliner, following All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines, LAN Airlines and Ethiopia Airlines.

This delivery is the first of 27 Dreamliners for Air India.

The airplane is equipped with 18 business class seats and 238 economy class seats.

The 787 has the range and capability to allow Air India to deploy the Dreamliner on many routes including the Middle East, Europe, Asia and Australia.

“We are pleased to celebrate another historic moment in our nearly seven-decade long relationship,” said Dinesh Keskar, senior vice president of Asia Pacific and India Sales for Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

“I am sure Air India and their customers will be thrilled to experience the revolutionary features on the 787, an airplane that will be the key focus of the airline’s turnaround plan.”