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Boeing
has confirmed that first flight of the 787 Dreamliner has been moved from the end of the first quarter of this year to around the end of
the second quarter to provide additional time to complete assembly of the first airplane. Deliveries are now expected to begin in early 2009,
rather than late 2008.
"The fundamental design and technologies of the 787 remain sound," said Scott Carson, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial
Airplanes. "However, we continue to be challenged by start-up issues in our factory and in our extended global supply-chain."
Carson said that while solid progress has been made on the assembly of Airplane #1, the rate at which jobs are being completed has not
improved sufficiently to maintain the current schedule.
"Our revised schedule is based upon updated assessments from the 787 management team of the progress we have made and the lessons
we have learned to date. This includes our experience on the factory floor completing production work on the airplane that was originally
intended to be done by our suppliers," Carson said.
Over the next several weeks, Boeing will be working with its customers and suppliers to assess the specific impacts of the schedule change
on the 787's flight test program and entry into service. This effort will include an assessment of supplier progress in meeting their
commitments to deliver more complete assemblies on subsequent airplanes.
"We are deeply disappointed by what this delay means for our customers, and we are committed to working closely with them as we assess
the impact on our delivery schedules," Carson said.
Boeing's 2008 financial guidance will be updated with the impact of these changes when the company holds its fourth-quarter 2007
earnings conference call on January 30.
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