The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has certified increased maximum takeoff weights (iMTOW) for Boeing’s 787-9 and 787-10 variants, enabling airlines to carry additional payload or extend range while preserving fuel efficiency.
The 787-9 gains a 10,000-pound (4,540 kg) increase to 571,500 pounds (259.2 metric tons), supporting roughly three metric tons of extra payload or more than 300 nautical miles (560 km) of added range. The 787-10 receives a 14,000-pound (6,350 kg) boost to 574,000 pounds (260.3 metric tons), allowing about five metric tons more payload or over 400 nautical miles (740 km) of additional range.
All 787-9 and 787-10 aircraft assembled since December 2025 are structurally capable of these weights. Airlines can activate the iMTOW option at delivery or later, aligning certified weights with route economics and airport fees.
“We started this effort after airlines sent Boeing a clear message: they wanted greater flexibility,” said John Murphy, 787 Chief Project Engineer. “Some wanted the 787-10 to fly longer missions; others wanted the 787-9 to carry additional payload with range trade-offs. Boeing designed a solution that delivers both.”
The first iMTOW-equipped aircraft are undergoing final inspections, flight tests, and delivery processes. Air New Zealand, the 787-9 launch customer, will operate among the initial units. “This upgrade gives us greater ability to carry additional payload on our ultra long-haul routes,” said Baden Smith, Air New Zealand general manager of Strategy, Networks and Fleet.
Certification followed years of engineering, testing, and coordination with regulators, including structural loads analysis and systems validation, as noted by Lisa Fahl, vice president of 787 Engineering.