Further delays for Dreamliner
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Boeing has announced further delays to the launch of its 787 Dreamliner aircraft. The manufacturer’s flagship aircraft will now commence its first flight in the second quarter of 2009, with the first deliveries following in Q1 2010. Boeing has blamed the disruptive impact of the recently ended Machinists’ strike at its Seattle factory, along with the need to replace fasteners in early production models.
“Our industry team has made progress with structural testing, systems hardware qualification, and production, but we must adjust our schedules for these two unexpected disruptions,” said Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO, Scott Carson.
The previous schedule had set the first Dreamliner flight for Q4 2008, with deliveries starting in Q3 2009.
The new delays are a blow to Boeing as its rival Airbus, despite problems of its own, has already started delivery of its flagship A380 aircraft - the rival to Boeing’s Dreamliner - with delivery ceremonies for airlines such as Emirates and Qantas providing excellent publicity for the European manufacturer.
Boeing said however, that it is confident it will overcome these problems. “We will overcome this set of circumstances as we have others in the past, and we understand clearly what needs to be done to move forward,” said Pat Shanahan, Boeing’s 787 Program Vice President.
According to Boeing’s website, it currently has orders for 915 Dreamliners valued at US$154 billion.
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