Dubai: Boeing could escape paying compensation to carriers that ordered its Dreamliner 787 after it announced that deliveries of the model would be delayed yet again.
The long-range, mid-sized and wide-bodied aircraft, with a capacity to seat up to 330 passengers, saw its sixth delay on Friday as engine problems took the project's total delay time to two-and-a-half years past the original delivery date.
Boeing's latest project, which saw record orders since it was launched — touching 910 units at the end of 2008, has suffered several setbacks since it was unveiled.
Complications and delays have led to some cancellations and a shift to other models, resulting in Dreamliner's orders dropping to 847 — four less in the first few months of this year.
Of the Middle East carriers, UAE's Etihad Airways is Boeing's biggest customer for the 787 with 35 firm orders and 25 options for the 787-9 variant that comes with a higher range and capacity than the other two designs.
Qatar Airways follows closely behind with 30 firm orders and 30 options for the 787-8 variant — a base model that will be the first phase of the project to enter into service.
Iraqi Airways and Royal Jordanian placed 10 and seven orders, respectively. Gulf Air ordered 24 Dreamliner 787s to add to its fleet while Alafco, a leasing firm, placed an order for 22 aircraft.
Regional airlines account for almost 15 per cent of the total orders for the aircraft whose list price is between $150 million (Dh550.7 million) and $205 million.
In a statement, Boeing said a delay in the availability of Rolls-Royce engines needed for the final phases of flight testing had now pushed first delivery date to first quarter of 2011.
"The schedule revision will not affect the company's financial guidance," the Boeing statement said.
Saj Ahmad, a London-based aerospace and airline analyst at FBE Aerospace, said the situation was unacceptable, given that many carriers were witnessing a rise in traffic numbers amid a rising demand for new, fuel-efficient planes.
"With workmanship issues still a major issue for the 787, production capability is being stifled with almost frequent occurrences of work stoppages to verify build quality."
Ahmad said airlines would be quick to seek compensation. Qatar Airways has said that any delays in their deliveries in 2011 could force them to pursue penalty payments, further discounting cost of the order for its 777s that are yet to be delivered. The airline has also suggested that it could opt to terminate the order and walk away. Qatar Airways confirmed to Gulf News that its 787 deliveries won't be affected while Eithad Airways officials could not be reached.
Eco-friendly
Boeing boasts that the Dreamliner is a more efficient commercial jetliner. Using 20 per cent less fuel per passenger than similarly-sized aircraft, the 787 has lower emissions and quieter take-offs and landings.
"There is a very big likelihood that near-term 787 deliveries, certainly those earmarked for 2011 could slide by a couple of months — anything beyond that and Boeing will be staring at yet another big compensation bill from each of its customers — and it is this that could also push the 787 programme into a loss position," Ahmad said.
"Its record sales means very little if the programme isn't profitable."
