Boeing Co Again Postponed Deliveries of Boeing 787 Aircraft

Boeing Co. again postponed the delivery of its first Boeing Commercial Airplanes 787 to the middle of the 2011 first quarter, compounding a string of delays for the jetliner that is already more than two years past its original scheduled debut.

The latest delay is the result of engine delivery problems, Boeing said in a statement early Friday. The Chicago company said in July it expected to deliver the plane late this year, but it warned that might not happen. It had said at that time that a series of problems, including supplier work related to parts of the tail and instrument issues that might push the first delivery “a few weeks into 2011.”

The 787’s first customer, Japan’s All Nippon Airways, said in a statement the delay is regrettable especially “given the success of the flight test program so far.”

“However, we trust that the time will be used to deliver the best possible aircraft in the shortest possible time frame.”

The 787, which Boeing calls the Dreamliner, is made of many composite materials designed to make it lighter and more fuel-efficient than comparable planes already in the sky.

It lists for $150 million to $205.5 million, depending on the model, but major customers routinely get discounts.

Boeing said the delay won’t affect its financial expectations. Boeing spokeswoman Yvonne Leach said the company is working closely with British engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce to expedite engine deliveries, but current flight tests are continuing as planned.

Rolls-Royce said the delay was not related to the reported failure of an engine in a recent test.

“We have been informed by Boeing that the currently planned dates for Trent 1000 engine deliveries will not support their latest flight test program requirements,” Rolls-Royce said in a statement Friday.

However, Rolls-Royce confirmed “that the engine availability issue is unrelated to the test bed event which occurred earlier this month.”

The FlightGlobal website, an aviation news site, reported this week that a Trent 1000 engine suffered an “uncontained” failure – meaning debris broke out of the engine casing – during a test on Aug. 2.

Airlines Manufactured : Bombardier Inc. Says American Eagle Orders 22 Jets

Bombardier Inc. said Thursday that the parent of regional airline American Eagle ordered 22 jets with a value of $779 million.

Eagle, the regional sister carrier of American Airlines, held options on the planes and converted them to firm orders, said Bombardier said, which is based in Canada.

In a regulatory filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Eagle parent AMR Corp. said it reached an agreement with Canada’s export agency and another party, which it did not name, to provide financing for the full cost of the order. Read more

Boeing Will Test 787 Dreamliner in 2009 but Delays Delivery

Boeing Company, Thursday, announced it would test-fly its 787 Dreamliner later this year but disappointed customers by delaying delivery of the plane until the fourth quarter of 2010.

Wall Street cheered the announcement as Boeing’s stock soared more than 6% in New York trading after the company said it still expects the 787 to be profitable.
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S&P Worried About Possible Boeing Production Cuts

Standard & Poor’s said Friday it remains concerned about the potential for more order cancellations and deferrals at Boeing Co. that could force the airplane maker to scale back production of models other than its new 787 next year.
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Boeing Sees First 787 Flight This Year

Boeing said on Thursday its 787 Dreamliner would finally make its first flight by the end of this year, with initial delivery expected in the fourth quarter of 2010.

Shares of the Chicago-based company rose to a five-month high as the statement helped answer questions that have surrounded the lighter, more fuel-efficient 787 aircraft, said Alex Hamilton, an analyst with Jesup & Lamont Securities. Read more