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SFO Officials Hope To Have Boeing 787 Dreamliner Service Next Year

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) – Boeing's new 787 Dreamliner has begun regular flights and San Francisco International Airport officials said they hope to have one land in the Bay Area as early as next year.

The first commercial flight for the new jet landed this week in Hong Kong. The plane was designed for long flights as it is built out of lightweight materials that improve its fuel-efficiency.

KCBS' Bob Melrose Reports:

San Francisco International Airport spokesman Mike McCarron said the hub can't wait for the first flight to land in the Bay Area.

"We expect maybe as early as next year sometime with some of the overseas carriers," he said. "ANA All Nippon Airways is already taking deliveries so we may see them flying here. United has a big order and they're our largest customer. Regardless, we're looking forward to it when it happens."

Boeing has a lot riding on the Dreamliner as it has invested billions in research and development of the 787, while also building a new assembly line in North Carolina to handle some of the demand for the jet.

(Copyright 2011 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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