The first of Boeing’s long-awaited 787 “Dreamliner” aircraft will not be delivered until early next year, the US manufacturer confirmed on Friday, adding to a string of delays that has dogged the project and set back the introduction of the 300-seat jet by more than two years.
Boeing cited problems with the availability of a Rolls Royce engine — needed for the final phases of test flights this fall — as the reason for the delay. This will push back delivery of the first aircraft, to its maiden customer, All Nippon Airways of Japan, to around the middle of the first quarter of 2011.
ANA, which ordered 50 Dreamliners in 2004, and has options for another 5, had expected to take delivery of the first Dreamliner later this year.
Boeing said in a statement that the delay would not affect its financial outlook.