Singapore Airlines (SIA) has taken delivery of its first Boeing 787-10 from the manufacturer’s production facility in North Charleston, South Carolina.

SIA is the world’s first airline to take delivery of Boeing’s newest aircraft variant, which is due to enter commercial service next month.

The aircraft – the first of 49 787-10s that SIA has on firm order – was formally delivered at a ceremony today in North Charleston (evening of 25 March 2018 local time) attended by SIA CEO Goh Choon Phong.

“It is an honour for us to be the world’s first airline to take delivery of this amazing aircraft. The 787-10 is indeed a magnificent piece of engineering and truly a work of art. It will be an important element in our overall growth strategy, enabling us to expand our network and strengthen our operations,” Goh said at the delivery event.

“The delivery of the first 787-10 underscores our longstanding commitment to operate a modern fleet, and marks the start of a new chapter in our shared story with Boeing.”

SIA’s 787-10s will be used for flights up to eight hours. Osaka and Perth will be the first scheduled destinations to be served by the new aircraft, from May 2018. Prior to the introduction of these services, the aircraft will be operated on selected flights to Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur for crew training purposes.

The 787-10s will feature SIA’s new regional cabin products, configured with 337 seats in two classes, featuring 36 Business Class and 301 Economy Class seats.

Constructed using lightweight composite materials, the 68-metre 787-10 is the longest variant of Boeing’s Dreamliner range of aircraft. With exceptional operating efficiency and advanced technology, the newest addition to the Airline’s fleet is designed to offer a more tranquil cabin experience. Customers can look forward to customisable lighting preferences with large electronically dimmable windows, cleaner air, and a quieter and smoother ride.

SIA is the largest customer for the 787-10. Low-cost subsidiary Scoot is already an operator of both 787-8s and 787-9s, making SIA the first airline group in the world to operate all three variants of Boeing’s Dreamliner family of aircraft.

In addition to the 49 firm-ordered 787-10s, SIA has a firm order with Boeing for 20 777-9s, which are due for delivery from the 2021/22 financial year.