More delays hit Dreamliner
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Boeing has confirmed that first flight of the 787 Dreamliner has been moved from the end of the first quarter of this year to around the end of the second quarter. It said this provides more time to complete assembly of the first airplane. Deliveries are now expected to begin in early 2009, rather than late 2008.
“The fundamental design and technologies of the 787 remain sound,” said Scott Carson, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “However, we continue to be challenged by start-up issues in our factory and in our extended global supply-chain.”
Meanwhile All Nippon Airways, due to have been the first to put the plane into flight, is assessing the impact. It had placed orders in 2004 for 50 of the next-generation jets, making it the so-called “launch customer”, AFP reported.
It planned to receive the first in early 2008 and fly them in time for the Beijing Olympics.
Australian budget airline Jetstar said its expansion plans would be set back by the new delay.
The Qantas subsidiary was to receive the first 15 of 65 firm orders the Qantas group has with Boeing.
An AFP report said Boeing has more than 700 orders for the Dreamliner from at least 50 airlines, representing more thanUS110 billion, according to catalog prices.
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