Dreamliner hit by six-month delay

CHICAGO, Oct. 10, 2007 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE:BA] today announced a six-month delay in its planned initial deliveries of the 787 Dreamliner due to continued challenges completing assembly of the first airplanes.

Deliveries of the strong-selling Dreamliner are now slated to begin in late November or December 2008, versus an original target of May 2008. First flight is now anticipated around the end of first quarter 2008.

The company said the financial impact of the delay would not be material to earnings and that its earnings guidance for 2007 and 2008 remained unchanged.

"We are disappointed over the schedule changes that we are announcing today," said Boeing Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Jim McNerney. "Notwithstanding the challenges that we are experiencing in bringing forward this game-changing product, we remain confident in the design of the 787, and in the fundamental innovation and technologies that underpin it."

Early last month, Boeing announced a delay in the planned first flight of the 787 citing ongoing challenges with out-of-sequence production work, including parts shortages, and remaining software and systems integration activities. The company also acknowledged increasing risk to the delivery schedule, indicating that the margin to accommodate unexpected issues had been eliminated. The newly revised schedule for first flight and first delivery addresses the production challenges and restores margin for the program to deal with issues that may be uncovered in final ground or flight testing. Boeing also said today that flight control software and systems integration activities are not pacing items in the revised schedule for first flight.

"While we have made some progress over the past several weeks completing work on our early production airplanes and improving parts availability across the production system, the pace of that progress has not been sufficient to support our previous plans for first delivery or first flight," said Scott Carson, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "We deeply regret the impact these delays will have on our customers, and we are committed to working with them to minimize any disruption to their plans.

"The most important commitment we've made to our customers is to deliver an airplane that performs to their expectations over the long life of the program. These changes to our schedule will help ensure we do just that," Carson said.

The company will hold a conference call to discuss the 787 schedule changes today at 12:30 p.m. Central Time, which will be accessible at the company's website.

Boeing will provide its next quarterly financial performance update as planned on October 24.

Yes, I just saw that on Airliners.net. Damn I was waiting for it, now a delay. Boy do I want to hear those Trent 1000's

I have to applaud Boeing for this though... they are doing the right thing. Better to delay the launch and make SURE they have a superior product, than rush out a half baked plane which will crash on maiden voyage.

Take your time Boeing.... do it RIGHT.

Bel, you are exactly right though ANA will be pissed, so will some other customers. Hope Boeing don't lose any orders But better a plane that flies and will give good service rather than something that you'd think was made by a trash company

Way I see it... ANA can WAIT... unless they are gonna cancel the deal and go fork out xyz amount of yen for an A380 of their own.

They are like MOST other airlines... they pride themselves on offering a superior product for their clients...

They will wait.



If I were a REAL airline operator waiting for the 787 I would wait too, and also insist that I get a checkride before I actually sign on the dotted line. Boeing has a LOT riding on this bird... they had better get it right... and sounds like they are giving themselves the time to.

More power to em.

(Hmmm I sound like a Boeing fan don't I?)

Give you another example... Cirrus is working on a single engine private jet. They had a mockup ready for Oshkosh, but when asked when it will be ready all they can say is not sure yet.

While it may seem they do not know what they are doing... they are actually doing the right thing. They don't know how long it will take to get all the bugs out for the prototype to fly, and then production to start.... but you know what... rich boys are already plopping money down to "put one on layaway"... and they don't even know if it will fly.

You are exactly right Bel but ANA would have wanted it earlier though but It will turn out to be a great airliner, can't wait to fly on one

me too... I hope the domestics are getting some too...

Btw Cheeks, nice avatar there with the gatling gun. hahaha.

ok hurts to laugh... going to bed... again.

Thanks. Hope your tooth gets better