Artist's rendering of the "Stretch" 777-300 which entered service in 1998. On regional and domestic routes, the 777-300 offers similar seating capacity and comfort with much better fuel and crew efficiency than early generation 747s. The 777 wing uses the most aerodynamically efficient airfoil ever developed for subsonic commercial aviation. This advanced wing enhances the airplane's ability to climb quickly and cruise at higher altitudes than competing airplanes while achieving higher cruise speeds. It also allows the airplane to carry full passenger payloads out of many high-elevation, high-temperature airfields.