Boeing Shuffles 787 Order Book,No Takers For First Six-Report
April 03 2009 - 1:29PM
Dow Jones News
Boeing Co. (BA) has reshuffled the customers for initial
deliveries of its delayed 787 and set aside plans to send the first
six aircraft into commercial use, according to a published
report.
The move would see launch customer All Nippon Airways (9202.TO)
take 11 of the first 30 aircraft, while Chinese carriers appear to
have slipped from the first deliveries scheduled for next year,
according to flightblogger.com published by U.K.-based Flight
International.
Boeing declined comment on the report, which comes ahead of the
first test flight scheduled for June. The 787 is more than two
years behind schedule, with its launch delayed several times by
supply and design problems.
Jim Proulx, a spokesman for Boeing's commercial airplanes unit,
said the company doesn't comment on individual delivery schedules
to customers. He acknowledged that "where possible, we are making
adjustments that meet our customers' needs while allowing us to
successfully manage our production plan."
Boeing said it hasn't made any changes to its delivery schedule,
with the first 787 due to arrive at ANA in the first quarter of
2010.
According to flightblogger, Boeing is switching some aircraft to
ANA that had been destined for Chinese airlines, who originally
hoped to have the 787 in time for last year's Beijing Olympics. The
Japanese carrier declined comment.
ANA is expected to use its first aircraft for domestic routes,
while Chinese carriers are more concerned about the first aircraft
being overweight. While this is a common problem with new aircraft
types, it is a bigger issue for customers planning to use them on
longer international routes.
Boeing also has reportedly re-assigned 787s ordered by Delta Air
Lines Inc. (DAL) to Qantas Airways (QAN.AU) and Air India. Delta
recently refuted speculation it had cancelled some of its
orders.
Delta and Royal Air Maroc had been slated to take some of the
first six test aircraft, but this plan has been revised, according
to flightblogger.
The airlines couldn't immediately be reached for comment.
The weight issues have troubled some 787 customers, since it
would put aircraft performance below levels claimed by Boeing.
The 787 is the first commercial aircraft made with lightweight
composite materials, rather than aluminum, cutting overall weight
and boosting efficiency.
Boeing has outsourced much of the production, a move that has
plagued the program with delays and forced the company to increase
investment and resources.
Along with rival Airbus, Boeing is facing a weakening market for
new aircraft, as airlines around the world cope with economic
recession and a credit crisis that makes financing difficult.
Still, Boeing has said for the new, fuel-saving plane remains
strong, and some customers want to move up in the order book as
others defer multimillion-dollar purchases, making for a "dynamic"
schedule that is subject to change.
The 787, the most successful launch ever at Boeing, has received
more than 800 firm orders. So far this year, there have been no new
787 orders, and 32 cancellations.
-By Ann Keeton, Dow Jones Newswires;
312-750-4120;ann.keeton@dowjones.com