Delta Dumps Dreamliner Because It's Sick Of Waiting

March 9, 2009 at 8:56 AM | by kjb | 0 Comments

We�ve been following the saga of Boeing�s 787 Dreamliner, and if everything went according to schedule it�d be above our heads�at least testing�by now. That�s not the case, and some companies are getting a little fed up with the waiting game. We�d like our planes are safe, so we�re willing to wait a bit longer 'til they get this sorted out.

However, Delta does care about the schedule, and that�s why they�re looking to cancel its order of 18 of these planes that were initially part of an order placed by Northwest Airlines.

Delta failed to include the planes on a recent Securities and Exchange Commission filing, but the company insists that the orders haven�t been canceled�yet. Reports indicate that Delta is looking to cut these 787s loose, since Boeing has failed to meet deadlines, and since the airline is looking more favorable towards the 777.

The biggest losers in this whole thing are the former pilots of Northwest. Under the merger between the two airlines, the Northwest pilots were supposed to be the lucky ones that got first dibs on the 787. Looks like they�ll be stuck flying the old 747s around the globe with their new Delta paint scheme, and Continental pilots will get to take the first 787 for a test drive here at home. So far this year, Boeing has lost 31 orders for the new bird this year, including a private order for a (formerly) high-roller.

Related Stories:
·Aerospace Notebook: Delta Signals It May Pull Back On 787 Orders [Seattle PI]
·Boeing Pushes Back Dreamliner Deliveries Yet Again [Jaunted]
·Boeing coverage [Jaunted]

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