Boeing to Delay Launch of Dreamliner—Again

Machinists strike, other bugs throw more wrenches into Boeing's production

By Clay Dillow, Newser Staff

Posted Dec 5, 2008 9:31 AM CST

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Boeing to Delay Launch of Dreamliner—Again — The first production model of the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner airplane is unveiled to an audience of several thousand employees, airline executives, and dignitaries during a ceremony July 8, 2007. (AP Photo)

Wheels-up time for Boeing’s much-anticipated Dreamliner jet will likely be delayed at least another 6 months, leaving customers wondering if the aircraft will ever take to the skies, the Wall Street Journal reports. The fourth delay, attributed to the recent machinists strike, bugs in the plane’s computer software, and other snags, may push delivery to summer 2010—more than 2 years late.

The escalating embarrassment for Boeing, which has 3,734 of the fuel-efficient jets on order, is spreading to other concerns, delaying efforts to update the iconic 747 by 9 months as the Dreamliner consumes resources. Once complete, the Dreamliner still faces certification hurdles with the FAA. "Just getting the first ones delivered to a handful of airlines isn't the end of the story," one airline CEO said.
(More Boeing stories.)

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