US plane manufacturer Boeing has unveiled its first new plane since 1995, the 787 Dreamliner, as it throws down the gauntlet to Airbus' new A380.
The new plane is said to be environmentally friendly as well as innovative as half of the plane is made from carbon fibre composites.
A spokesperson for Boeing said that the Dreamliner would use 20 per cent less fuel per passenger than similarly-sized airplanes, produce fewer carbon emissions, and have quieter takeoffs and landings.
The plane is scheduled to begin commercial operations in May 2008 with test flights scheduled this September.
The spokesperson added that orders for 677 airplanes totaling $110 billion (£54.66 billion) had been placed so far.
All Nippon Airways of Japan will be the first airline to use the plane for commercial flights.
Airbus' A380 has been dogged by delays caused by wiring glitches and has been unable to deliver its aircraft to customers on time.
The 555-seater A380 is a much larger plane that hopes to cater to a larger number of passengers flying between major airports. Boeing's Dreamliner is a medium-sized plane that can be used by smaller airports.
Airbus is currently developing the A350 which is considered to be more of a competitor to the Dreamliner.
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