Qatar Airways Expresses Concerns About GEnx Engines

In figures announced last week, Boeing said it had doubled the number of Dreamliners is has delivered to customers when compared to the previous quarter, but all is not rosy with the company's new airliner.

Reuters reports that Boeing sent a dozen Dreamliners to new owners in the third quarter of 2012, compared with six airplane deliveries in the second quarter. It did not indicate how many of those third quarter deliveries were airplanes that required repairs after leaving the factory.

All of the 26 airplanes that have been delivered were assembled in Washington State. The first delivery of an airplane built in South Carolina went to Air India on Friday to kick off the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, Moody Investors Service analyst Russell Solomon said that there are some 50 airplanes that are in completion that should be delivered next year. Boeing is working towards a production rate of five airplanes per month including those made in South Carolina.

But one Dreamliner that Boeing has slated for delivery was actually sent to Victorville, CA, for the installation of "connectivity modifications". The plane will wear the livery of Qatar Airways, but the airline's chief executive said on October 2 that it would not accept the airplane until a defect in the GEnx-1B engines was corrected, according to Reuters. Qatar has ordered 30 787s with options for 30 more, and all would be powered by the GE engines.

Boeing spokesman Doug Alder said a ceremony marking the delivery would be held when the airplane returns to Seattle.

(File image of Air India Dreamliner built in South Carolina)

FMI: www.boeing.com