German low-cost carrier Air Berlin placed a firm order for 25 Boeing 787 Dreamliners on 7 July, valued at about USD4 billion at list price.

In addition to the 25 firm orders, Air Berlin said it had taken options to buy a further 10 B-787s and had agreed on purchase rights for another 15 aircraft.

The deal is the largest single order for the B-787 from a European carrier.

The order was announced on the eve of the official debut of the B-787 at a ceremony at its final assembly factory in Everett, Washington.

Following the ceremony, the first B-787 will be completed in the Everett factory - including the installation of final systems elements, interiors and flight-test equipment.

The first flight of the aircraft is expected in late August or September 2007. A total of six aircraft will be included in the flight-test p <!-- Inject Script Filtered --> rogramme, which will conclude in May 2008 with certification, followed shortly by the first delivery of a 787 to All Nippon Airways.