First Deliveries Still Targeted For Q4 2010

Sources inside Boeing indicate that the final Dreamliner test aircraft (ZA006) may not fly until September 12, but it is still targeting the first delivery of a production aircraft to launch customer ANA in the 4th quarter of this year.

The sixth test aircraft was to have flown at the end of July, but that simply didn't happen. Boeing acknowledges that its margin on the flight test program to make the planned December delivery is pretty thin, and it has hinted that ANA may have to wait for its first Dreamliner until early in 2011.

The Air Transport World blog reports that, according to Boeing, Dreamliner ZA001 has accumulated over 466 hours of flight testing, and overall, the fleet has racked up 463 flights and about 1,446 hours.

But the ongoing delays in delivery dates have pushed one customer, Air India, to file a $1 billion claim against Boeing. When they ordered their Dreamliners, Air India was to have received their first aircraft in 2008, and now Boeing says March 2011 is the earliest Air India will see one of the new planes. India Today says the airline has the backing of the Indian government in pursuing the claim against Boeing. The U.S. government is urging New Delhi to take a less strident stance on the issue.

Final assembly has already begun on the first Dreamliner to be delivered to Air India, which should be the 26th airplane to come off the assembly line. The airline plans to use the Dreamliner to replace older A310's and 747-400 aircraft.

FMI: www.boeing.com, www.airindia.in