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Tags: Boeing 787 Dreamliner / 787 / Boeing / Airline News / Airplane News / → All Tags

'7-Late-7' May Actually Fly In 2009 After All

If you’re getting sick of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner saga, just let us know, because we’re almost over it ourselves. We thought things would be grounded until 2010, but now Boeing is claiming that the long delayed plane will fire up its first test flight by the end of this year. This is great news for airplane dorks like us, and for All Nippon Airways, as they’ve got first dibs on the new bird.

Industry analysts were thinking that Boeing wouldn’t be able to deliver the goods until 2011 at the earliest, but after test flights later this year (if they happen), the first deliveries should be happening late in 2010. Even with all the delays and trouble getting things off the ground, the plane is still expected to be a solid moneymaker for the company.

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Tags: Boeing 787 Dreamliner / 787 / Boeing / Airline News / Airplane News / → All Tags

Boeing's 787 On The Backburner Possibly 'Til 2010

At this point in the 787 saga, we feel badly for Boeing and all the issues they’ve had with their next generation airplane. The 787 Dreamliner has been taunted with unkind nicknames, but let’s be honest, the constant delays are just adding fuel to the fire. During the company’s recent earnings conference call, CEO Jim McNerney was peppered with questions about his new pride and joy. However, like any good executive, he didn’t reveal anything too damning.

The company is still assessing how long it will take to repair the recently discovered flaws and issues with the new bird, which means it’s going to be pretty difficult to provide a first flight timeline, since they’re busy arguing over how long it will take to fix everything. The company did say that they hope to release an updated test and deliver schedule within “several weeks.”

Meanwhile, The Seattle Times cited a couple of Boeing engineers who stated that some of these issues will likely take four to six months to work out, and that the first flight could be pushed into 2010. To make matters worse, the CEO over at Qatar Air is talking junk and letting everyone know that Boeing has “lost its leadership.” He has a right to be a little pissed—his company has 60 of these new planes on order and he’s got nothing to show for it.

Related Stories:
· Boeing Doesn't Know Yet How Long 787 Fix Will Take [Seattle Times]
· Qatar Air CEO Says 'Boeing Has Lost Its Leadership' [USA Today]
· Boeing coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Wikimedia]

Tags: Boeing 787 Dreamliner / 787 / Boeing / Airline News / Airplane News / → All Tags

Boeing 787 Test Flight Delayed; Now Nicknamed The '7-Late-7'

Remember just the other day when we were all excited about the Boeing 787 finally taking off? Well, due to some unforeseen issues, it looks like the Dreamliner is now no go for launch. Besides us, we’re pretty sure there are some less than pleased stockholders and airline executives.

Apparently, the new plane needs some reinforcement where the wing and fuselage meet before things can move forward. Of course we’re all for safety first, but this is still a little disappointing. Engineers insist that the composite material used in the new bird is still the right choice, regardless of the delays that they've experienced.

For now, Boeing said it would be several weeks before they reveal even a new timetable for the 787’s first flight. We’re pulling for this thing to get up in the air sooner rather than later, but we can’t help but chuckle at some of the plane’s new nicknames; Nightmareliner, Hangar Queen, and 7-Late-7 are some of our favorites.

Related Stories:
· Initial Flight of Boeing 787 Delayed Again [Seattle Times]
· Boeing 787 Dreamliner Dubbed 7-late-7, Nightmareliner, & More [Seattle Post-Intelligencer]
· Airline News coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Wikimedia]

Tags: 787 / Boeing / Delta / Northwest / Dreamliners / → All Tags

Delta Dumps Dreamliner Because It's Sick Of Waiting

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.

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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]

Tags: Boeing / 787 / Strikes / ANA / V Australia / → All Tags

Could the Dreamliner Be Flying by 2009?

A tentative deal has been made between Boeing and its machinists union, which could end the nearly two-month-long strike that's halted production at its Everett, Washington factory. It's likely that the union will vote to approve the deal, which promises a 15 percent raise over four years and protects union jobs.

Once a deal is done, workers can get back to rolling out airplanes, in particular the 777, which new airline V Australia is anxiously awaiting after pushing back its launch date because of the strike. Meanwhile, ANA, the launch customer for the much-anticipated 787, was planning for deliveries this winter, but after countless delays already, that seems about as likely as Ted Stevens turning down a Bridge to Nowhere.

Boeing currently says the fuel efficient Dreamliner will debut by the end of 2009, but at least one supplier says 2010 is more likely. And that's just the first plane: More than 900 have been ordered, and the company will only be able to make a few 787s a month until at least 2012.

Related Stories:
· Tentative Deal Reached in Boeing Strike [Seattle P-I]
· Goodrich Says Boeing's 787 May Be Delayed [Bloomberg]
· Boeing Says More Delays Probable [Reuters]
· Boeing coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Wikipedia]

Tags: V Australia / Airlines / New Routes / 777 / 787 / Boeing / → All Tags

Boeing Strike Delays V Australia Launch

Machinists at Boeing's Everett, Washington factory have been on strike for nearly a month, extending seemingly endless delays on the 787--and on the three 777s V Australia ordered for its first flights. The new carrier, an offshoot of Virgin Blue, will now move its launch date back from December 15 to February 28, 2009 and hope that its planes are ready by then.

There are a couple of options for passengers who booked one of the now-canceled flights. You can call up for a full refund, or the carrier will book you on another airline, if you need to fly. A third option: V Australia will rebook passengers on a flight "on or after March 1, 2009" and toss in a $200 voucher for another Virgin Blue flight.

If the strike comes to an end soon--though The Seattle Times says that ain't likely--V Australia says it will move its launch date back up. As for all the money the carrier will lose because of the strike, a press release ominously declares:

The impact of the serious delay would be addressed between Virgin Blue and The Boeing Company at a later date.

Related Stories:
· Boeing Strike Delays Launch of V Australia [MarketWatch]
· V Australia on Track for First Flights in '08 [Jaunted]
· Red Tape Worries V Australia [Jaunted]

Tags: Boeing / Dreamliner / 737 / 777 / 787 / → All Tags

Air China Didn't Get the Memo

The near-term future of Chinese aviation is all about smaller planes, so when Air China needed some big jets, it had to look elsewhere. The state-owned carrier just announced that it plans to buy 45 new aircraft from Boeing, growing its fleet by 35 percent with the purchase.

Most of the new 777s and 737s will fly out of Beijing, further entrenching the airline at PEK. (You know the flag carrier gets that sweet real estate in T3.) Also on the horizon for Air China are 15 787s, if and when those next-generation jets roll off the line.

What we're still wondering about, though, is when these new planes will be delivered. After all, another carrier just jumped to the front of the Boeing production queue.

Related Stories:
· Air China Announces $6.3 Billion Deal [AP, via Google]
· Happily Welcoming Our New Chinese Aviation Overlords [Jaunted]
· Boeing coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo of Air China's Olympics livery: Wikimedia]

Tags: A380 / Emirates / Dreamliner / 787 / → All Tags

Adventures of Link: A380 Coming Stateside

The A380 is finally coming to America! Emirates will run flights between New York and Dubai, starting August 1.

The massive aircraft won't be making all the runs between the two cities, but it will be the first time the A380 flies into the US in commercial service. Elsewhere, you can ride it between Singapore and both Sydney and London on Singapore Airlines.

Related Stories:
· If You Want to See a Really Big Airplane [Airline Biz Blog]
· Emirates to Launch First Service to US with A380 [AFP, via Google]
· Dreamliner to Fly by End of 2008 [BBC]
· Coming Soon: A380 Kangaroos [Jaunted]
· A380 coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: The Cranky Flier]

Tags: Hainan Airlines / Airlines / China Travel / PEK / SEA / 787 / Dreamliner / → All Tags

If You Haven't Flown 'Em, They're New to You

We're a bit embarrassed to admit that today was the first we'd ever heard of Hainan Airlines. We're clearly behind the times on this one, as the carrier is China's fourth-largest and the country's biggest privately-owned airline.

Hainan is now making its first flights to America, with four-times-a-week service between Seattle and Beijing, giving you another non-stop option between the US and the Olympics. (Don't get your hopes up, though: Hainan doesn't use the new Terminal 3.)

For now, Hainan is flying Airbus A330s, but once Boeing finally rolls out the Dreamliner, you'll be able to fly SEA-PEK in carbon fiber bliss.

Related Stories:
· Airport Check-in: Seattle Beijing Service Starts [USAToday]
· New Airlines coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo of a 737: Drewski2112]

Tags: 787 / Dreamliner / Jetstar / Virgin Atlantic / British Airways / → All Tags

Boeing Announces More 787 Delays

We're beginning to think we may never fly on one of Boeing's new Dreamliners. The company announced this morning that it's yet again pushing back the debut of its fancy, fuel-efficient 787s, saying it'll get them off the ground by the end of 2008. That means the first commercial flights won't happen until well into 2009.

The news is sad for plane geeks like us, but it could be worse. Some airlines, like Australia's Jetstar, have tied their expansion plans to the 787. No new planes means no new routes--and no new cash rolling in.

British Airways and Virgin Atlantic are also among the carriers affected. No doubt all three airlines are hoping this is the last of the game-killing delays.

Related Stories:
· More Delays for Launch of Dreamliner [CBC]
· Dreamliner Delays Killing Jetstar's Game [Jaunted]
· Dreamliner Makes Emperor Palpatine-Style Entrance [Jaunted]

[Photo: Wikipedia]

Tags: 787 / Dreamliner / Jetstar / Qantas / Australia Travel / LCCs / Low Cost Carriers / → All Tags

Dreamliner Delays Totally Killing Jetstar's Game

Airlines the world over are waiting for Boeing to finish building its new 787s, and with delivery now set for 2009 at the earliest, Jetstar, for one, is canceling flights. The Qantas spinoff that's supposed to challenge Virgin Blue will have to wait until 2010 to start flying its European service.

But the carrier won't simply stand for these business-killing delays; Qantas is seeking damages from Boeing, which said it would have the first 15 787s out to Australia by May 2009. We don't know how much cash the airline will be asking for, but CEO Alan Joyce cares about more than just money:

We will get compensation from Boeing for the delay. [But] we are disappointed because we would rather be flying the aircraft.

Related Stories:
· Dreamliner Delay Sets Back Expansion [SMH]
· Jetstar Delays Its European Launch [FT]
· Jetstar coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: jp3g]