Boeing
today announced the name of its newest airplane– the Boeing 7E7 – at the Paris Air Show. After casting approximately 500,000 votes in more
than 160 countries, people from around the world chose "Dreamliner" as the
winner.
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"The people of the world made a great choice," said Rob Pollack, vice
president of Branding for Boeing Commercial Airplanes Marketing. "The name Dreamliner reflects a new airplane that will fulfill the dreams of airlines
and passengers with its efficient operations, enhanced cabin environment,
and the ability to allow profitable connection to more cities without stopovers.
"The name also demonstrates how the airplane's economics will enable
more people around the world to fulfill their dreams of traveling to new
places, experiencing new cultures and staying connected to one another."
Among the four possibilities, the three other choices were: eLiner, Global
Cruiser and Stratoclimber.
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In addition to naming the airplane, 120,000 people around the world signed
up to join the World Design Team – an internet-based global forum to encourage participation and feedback while the airplane is being developed.
"Since we design our airplanes for the people who use them, it's only
natural to reach out to get their opinions," Pollack said. "We will gather their
ideas through online surveys and provide updates on the progress of the new airplane as the design of the exterior and interior evolves."
AOL members and others in China, France, Germany, Japan, the United
Kingdom and the United States also participated in a sweepstakes to win prizes.
The voting and sweepstakes were part of several online and offline
initiatives by Boeing and AOL Time Warner Inc. to engage consumers in the
development of the new airplane. Additionally, Alteon Training, a subsidiary
of The Boeing Company, will provide sweepstakes grand prize winners and their guests a two-hour "flight" in a 737-700/800 simulator in the training
centers in Seattle, London, and Kunming, China. |