Dreamliner Deal May Hinge On Talks

Can the damage be undone? That's the question many pundits and political analysts will be asking Friday, as President Bush meets with Russian president Vladimir Putin (right) in their first face-to-face summit since 2001.

But perhaps no one will be watching the talks more closely than Boeing, which has seen a possible order for as many as 22 787s from Russia's Aeroflot be placed in jeopardy over rising tensions between the two countries.

Many believe the power Bush has to approve Russia's entry into the World Trade Organization will smooth out any potential rough spots in the talks over such hot-button issues as Iran, Iraq, and North Korea... but, there's always the chance the Bush administration might do or say something to upset the volatile Putin, as Vice President Dick Cheney did earlier this year when he slammed the glacial progress of Russia's move to democracy.

Of course, there is also the chance that no matter what happens at the summit, good old fashioned business sense will trump politics... as Boeing has been holding early 787 delivery slots for the Russian carrier -- which Airbus could not hope to match with its rumored A350 replacement.

Boeing's chances are also helped by statements made by Sergei Koltovich, head of fleet planning at Aeroflot, while presenting a financial analysis comparing the Dreamliner to the airline's current Ilushyin 96.

"The difference between the IL-96 and the 787 is so great that the IL-96 would not be competitive if we were given them for free," Koltovich told the audience, according to the Seattle Times.

Hard to argue with a statement like that... but can we have a free IL-96, anyway?

FMI: www.boeing.com