Some have suggested that the Boeing 787-8 is small enough to fill in the niche left vacant by the Boeing 767. With airlines like American Airlines ordering the type to replace the 767, is the smallest Dreamliner actually the closest 'spiritual successor' to the forgotten type?

American Airlines 787-8 Dreamliner
The move comes as the carrier is working to improve its balance sheet. Photo: Getty Images

The Boeing 767 replacement problem

The Boeing 767 fills a very specific niche for airlines, ideal for cross-continental domestic travel and thin routes to international destinations in South America and Europe. Airlines that had previously deployed the Boeing 747 on these routes found that the twin-engined 767 was able to do them cheaper and with less wasted capacity.

Boeing has since discontinued the aircraft for passenger use leaving some airlines scratching their heads was to look for an adequate replacement.

Airbus has provided one answer, with its long-range Airbus A321XLR narrowbody. However, whilst the range is impressive, the capacity does leave some airlines wanting. For those looking for details, the A321XLR can carry 220 passengers to a range of 4,700 nautical miles.

airbus-a321xlr
The A321XLR has a 4,700nm range. Image: Airbus

Alternatively, Boeing has offered the Boeing 787-8, the smallest of all the Dreamliners, to airlines looking for an upgrade to the next generation.

How does the Boeing 787-8 compare to the Boeing 767?

This is how the two models compare:

  • The Boeing 787 can seat 242 passengers in two classes (24 business with 85" of seat pitch + 218 economy with 32" of seat pitch). It can fly a range of 7,355 nautical miles (13,620 km).
  • The most popular version of the 767, the -300ER version, can carry 261 passengers in two classes (24 in business and 237 in economy) to a range of 5,980 nautical miles  (11,070 km).

Naturally, there are several technological leaps between the two aircraft (especially in terms of range), but it's telling that the passenger numbers are roughly the same.

In fact, Boeing actually used the 767-300ER as the benchmark for the 787s performance, noting that it aimed to reach 20% lower fuel burn in its next-generation 787 over the original 767. In practice, the 787 is actually 22% more efficient than the 767.

Boeing 787
How the 787 compares to other airlines in the Boeing lineup. Photo: Surachit via Wikipedia

Many airlines have seen the 787 as a good 767 replacement, and have booked orders with Boeing. 

Is the Boeing 787-8 actually a successor to the Boeing 767?

Boeing has marketed the 787 family as its medium widebody (with the 777X now being upgraded as a 747 replacement and flagship aircraft) and thus has taken over the role left by the 767 by default.

But the 787-8, whilst effective, doesn't quite scratch the 'middle-of-the-market' itch that airlines have. Its a bit too expensive, a bit too big and a bit too advanced for medium-haul routes.

The 787-8 is as close as Boeing has got to a true 767 replacement, but we can't help but feel that some airlines (particularly ones who want an even smaller version of the 787) are a bit out of luck.

Interestingly it appears that the 787-9, the bigger version, is a better choice for some airlines over the smaller 787. Essentially, the 787-9 has roughly the same flight costs but comes with an extended range and 30-40 more seats. So many airlines that operated the 767 chose instead to bite the bullet and upgrade the bigger 787-9 over strictly replacing the 767.

What do you think? Is the 787-8 a good 767 replacement? Let us know in the comments.