Boeing's long-awaited 787 Dreamliner became a commercial reality on Sunday when the U.S. planemaker signed a final contract to deliver the world's first lightweight composites jetliner to its Japanese customer.

Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of the 787 program, said the $200 million aircraft was legally transferred to All Nippon Airways <9202.T>, following three years of delays in the ambitious project to build a new type of passenger plane.