Boeing is expected to announce today that its 787 Dreamliner has been delayed by 18 months, a setback that will cost the company billions of dollars in compensation to airlines. Sources close to Boeing said the American aerospace giant will admit that the revolutionary aircraft is unlikely to enter service until the end of 2009.

 

Image Boeing.com

The Dreamliner has taken orders worth more than $150 billion (£76 billion). It was scheduled to enter commercial service next month but this initially slipped to early 2009 and has now been delayed again. Boeing is also thought to be ready to postpone or even scrap one of the three variants of the aircraft to enable its engineers to focus on solving existing problems.

The likely victim will the 787-3, a high passenger density model designed for the Japanese market. The 787 is a radical new design because its fuselage is entirely made out of composite materials — essentially carbon fibre. Boeing has struggled to assemble the aircraft due to its complexity and it has yet to fly.

The delay will affect all airlines that have ordered the 787, including British Airways and Virgin Atlantic. The delay is particularly bad for BA as it means the British flag carrier might not get the aircraft in time for the 2012 Olympics. BA needs the 787 to increase capacity and reduce operating costs.

Source http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/engineering/article3708982.ece

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 It is the big news story of the day, or maybe even the year if this turns out to be true...

Flightblogger will be covering the event as it happens:

http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/flightblogger/2008/04/boeing-787-update-coverage-ope-1.html 

Boeing Revises 787 First Flight and Delivery Plans; Adds Schedule Margin to Reduce Risk of Further Delays

EVERETT, Wash., April 09, 2008 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced a revised plan for first flight and initial deliveries of the 787 Dreamliner that includes additional schedule margin to reduce risk of further delays on the program.

While significant progress has been made assembling Airplane #1, first flight is being rescheduled due to slower than expected completion of work that traveled from supplier facilities into Boeing's final assembly line, unanticipated rework, and the addition of margin into the testing schedule. The new delivery schedule is based on a more conservative production plan developed with the 787 partner team. That schedule now targets approximately 25 deliveries in 2009.

First flight of the all-new airplane will move into the fourth quarter of this year rather than the end of the second quarter, and first delivery is now planned for the third quarter of 2009 instead of first quarter.

Full Boeing press release here.
 

Poor Nippon Airways, have to wait another six months now!!! Maybe they should have gone with the A380

I wonder how much compensation companies like Nippon will get though from this delay!!!

I would imagine they will file for compensation, I guess that was built into the contracts when they ordered...so how long before we see cancellations..who will be the first??

Gossip via Boeing Long Beach suggests it's not flying at all this year! How do you like them apples?!

 

So how’s this one work then, Boeing announces a further delay in the program, this is now the third, orders for the 787 are around the 800 mark and I have just checked on Wall Street and their stock gained 4.77…?????

 

Photo credits Boeing.com

Boeing is a HUGE company, not only relying on the 787…