First 787 delivery delayed again due to engine problems

Boeing has pushed back delivery of its first 787 Dreamliner by several weeks due to a delay in the availability of a Rolls-Royce engine which is needed for the final phases of flight testing.

The US planemaker now expects to deliver the carbon-composite plane, already delayed by more than two years, to launch customer Japan's All Nippon Airways by the middle of the first quarter of 2011.

Boeing previously said the first delivery would be made a few weeks into 2011.

The delay comes after a Rolls' Trent 1000 engine blew up earlier this month at a test site in Derby, central England, forcing the company to temporarily close the facility.

"The delivery date revision follows an assessment of the availability of an engine needed for the final phases of flight test this fall," Boeing said. "Flight testing across the test fleet continues as planned."

Boeing added it was working with the British engine maker to ensure engines were made available as soon as possible but that the delay would not affect its financial outlook.

A Rolls-Royce spokesman said it was "working closely with Boeing to expedite delivery in support of their program schedule."

"REGRETTABLE" DELAY

Boeing had initially aimed to deliver the first 787 to All Nippon Airways by the end of 2010, but last month pushed the delivery date back to a few weeks into 2011, citing technical issues.

ANA called the delay "regrettable" and said it was keen to know when Boeing would be able to deliver its second 787.

ANA has ordered 55 of Boeing's latest jet, eight of which the planemaker has promised to deliver by April 2011.

Deliveries of the long-range passenger jet to ANA have been delayed by more than two years due to production problems.

The Japanese carrier said it did not include revenue from the 787 in its business plan this year so there would be no change to its profit outlook for the year ending March 31.

The 787 promises greater fuel efficiency and its lightweight materials and innovative design have captured the imagination of the industry.

Yet flight testing has been going more slowly than expected after the twin-engined passenger plane made an inaugural flight last December.

A spokesman for Australia's Qantas Airways said it was too early to say what impact the delay would have on it.

Qantas in July brought forward its 787 delivery schedule, saying it would receive the first of 50 of the aircraft it has on order in mid-2012.

(Reuters)