The U.S. aircraft maker Boeing has delivered the first of its long-awaited 787 Dreamliner planes to the Japanese airline All Nippon, more than three years behind schedule.

All Nippon took delivery of the $200 million high-tech jet Sunday in Boeing's home city of Seattle . A public ceremony is planned for Monday, and the jet will depart for Tokyo on Tuesday.

Boeing had promised to deliver the jet by 2008, but production and design problems caused one delay after another.

The Dreamliner can seat up to 330 passengers. It promises 20 percent fuel savings over a similar-sized 767 because instead of an aluminum body, the jet is covered in carbon fiber, a high-tech plastic that is strong but lightweight.

It also boasts the industry's largest windows and a more humid cabin to reduce dry noses and mouths. The plane will have a cabin pressure that is lower, closer to what passengers are used to on the ground.

All Nippon plans to begin flying the 787 on a route from Tokyo to Okayama-Hiroshima on Nov. 11. The first international route will be Tokyo to Frankfurt starting in January.

Boeing is reported to have lost billions of dollars because of delays in rolling out the new plane.

Airlines have ordered more than 800 Dreamliners. Analysts consider it the key to Boeing's future as it competes with the world's largest aircraft maker, Airbus.