Originally Posted by
EdmFlyBoi
Looking back, I suspect AC probably would have ordered only 789's rather than split between 788's and 789's that they presently have.
Originally Posted by
YOWgary
Hard to say.
Sometimes an airline is better off with the aircraft it can get delivered now, than with the operationally-ideal aircraft delivered 18 months later.
The 787 order was made based on supposed performance figures from Boeing. AC had originally ordered 15 788s IIRC, and the 788 was the first variant built and delivered by Boeing. Once 789s started to be produced and flown by other carriers and AC, it was apparent that the 789s performance and economics were much better than originally thought so AC converted 7 788 orders to 789.