Jaunted

Tags: 787 / Boeing / Strikes / ANA / Japan Airlines / → All Tags

Boeing Pushes Back Dreamliner Deliveries Yet Again

We're about to stop handicapping the odds that Boeing will ever get these 787s built: A spokeswoman told aviation blog FleetBuzz that thanks to a crippling machinists strike, the Dreamliner won't be making its first flight before the end of 2008 as previously planned. That means it's almost certain that deliveries to carriers like ANA and Japan Airlines won't happen until 2010.

Here's what Boeing had to say:

First flight of the 787 Dreamliner will not be accomplished in the fourth quarter of 2008. The timeframe for first flight has not been established and will be based on the strike recovery assessment. The program is working to determine a new program schedule that will be announced when it is finalized.

Adding to the trouble are newly discovered quality control issues with fasteners, the variety of dodads that hold the plane together. Needless to say, you can't make test flights when you're worried that the plane isn't bolted together right!

Related Stories:
· Boeing 787 First Flight Delayed [FleetBuzz]
· Boeing 787 Schedule Pushed Back Again [USA Today]
· Could the Dreamliner Be Flying by 2009? [Jaunted]