Boeing 787 tests market patience

THE FIRST test flight of Boeing’s much-delayed Dreamliner 787 aircraft is still on track for the end of the year but will not be driven by deadlines, the new head of the company’s commercial aircraft division said yesterday at the Dubai air show.

“We’re driving the schedule but we’re not schedule-driven,” said Jim Albaugh. “Based on everything we see, we’re going to fly this year.

“But I’ve spent a lot of time in the rocket business and the last thing in the world you want to have is launch fever: trying to launch something just because you have the deadline. We’re going to fly this airplane when it’s ready.”

The first flight of the Dreamliner, dubbed the “Dream On Liner” by some in the industry, is more than two years overdue and has led to consternation within Boeing and among some of the airlines who have ordered it.

The 787, which is being billed as a much lighter, more technically advanced and more fuel efficient carrier than any commercial aircraft ever built, has attracted more than 900 gross orders since 2004.

But 70 of Boeing’s 111 cancellations this year were for the 787 and some customers – such as Oman Air – have warned they would look at going to Airbus if there are further delays.

Airbus told reporters at the Dubai air show that total orders for the new A350 aircraft, widely expected to compete with the Dreamliner, had now reached 505 from 32 customers less than three years after it was first marketed.

So far this year, Boeing has 84 net aircraft orders while Airbus has 123, both far fewer than in previous years. – (Copyright The Financial Times Ltd 2009)