Six-month Dreamliner delay impacts airlines, suppliers worldwide

BOEING has announced that there will be a six-month delay on delivery of its 787 Dreamliner because of assembly problems with the first aircraft.

Dreamliners will not be delivered in late November or December next year as planned, but rather in May the year after. Test flights will be delayed the first quarter 2008, reports Dow Jones Newswires.

US-based Design News magazine reported that Boeing blamed out-of-sequence work caused by parts shortages. "While we made progress on early production, the pace [of improvements] has not been sufficient," said Boeing CEO Jim McNerney.

Mr McNerney said none of the problems are related to the plane's design. "We remain confident about the design of the 787 and the fundamental [technologies] that underpin it," he said.

Reuters reported that the announcement will affect airlines and suppliers because as deliveries are moved back, so are revenues from parts it sells to Boeing and flights the planes are supposed to generate for carriers.

The delay will cut products shipped by Spirit Aerosystems Inc. of Texas, which makes wings, propulsion systems and engine parts, reported The Houston Chronicle, which said the firm was considering issuing a profit warning in its coming third-quarter conference call.

Australian flag carrier Qantas said the delay would not "materially impact" operations after Boeing had assured the airline "that the 15 Dreamliners scheduled for delivery between August 2008 and December 2009 would all be delivered by the 2009 date".

Qantas CEO Geoff Dixon said the airline has 65 firm orders for the B787, 20 options and 30 purchase rights. The first 15 Qantas Group aircraft are scheduled for Jetstar's international operations.

Mr Dixon also said Qantas had contingency plans for any short-term capacity shortages. "Once Boeing confirms a revised delivery schedule we will assess the need for any other measures such as delaying the retirement of aircraft."

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