UNVEILED: THE GREEN JET THAT GOES LIKE A DREAM

And these long-haul jets will benefit from the best of British technology.

Yesterday, Rolls-Royce Group announced that it had signed a £1.3billion contract to supply 80 Trent 1000 engines for 40 of the planes. Chief executive Sir John Rose said: “These aircraft will be placed with operators around the world, expanding the global footprint of the Trent operation.”

The Dreamliner, unveiled at Everett, Washington, on Sunday, is Boeing’s first all-new jet since the 777 came into service in 1995.

It will be the world’s first large commercial aircraft made mostly of carbon-fibre materials, which are lighter and last better, than aluminium. The planes will also use less fuel – a selling point in a world of rocketing oil prices. Boeing has already won more than 600 orders from airlines around the world.

As for passengers, Boeing claims that air-pressure control and humidified air will make them feel much more comfortable and less dehydrated during flights. Boeing Chief Executive Jim McNerney said the 787 will bring about a “dramatic improvement in air travel”.