Boeing Suspends Some Work on Short-Haul 787 Version
Boeing Co. suspended some work on
the short-haul version of its twice-delayed 787 Dreamliner
aircraft to focus on a larger model of the carbon-composite
jetliner thats garnered more orders.
“Some of the resources from the 787-3 have been
temporarily redeployed, Lori Gunter, a Boeing spokeswoman in
Seattle, said in an interview today. “Thats in an effort to
support the programs nearer-term priorities.
Boeing, the worlds second-biggest commercial-airplane
maker, is re-evaluating its schedule for the three versions of
the 787 that are being developed. The plane is now about eight
months behind schedule because of problems with unfinished parts
from suppliers, with the first delivery due in early 2009.
“The 787-3 was an important catalyst for garnering
critical 787 launch orders from ANA and JAL, but at this point
it seems more of a drag on the program than a benefit, said
Douglas Runte, managing director at RBS Greenwich Capital in
Greenwich, Connecticut.
Gunter said the planemaker remains “absolutely committed
to producing the 787-3 for Japanese airlines wanting it for
shorter trips.
All Nippon, Japan Air
When All Nippon Airways Co. ordered 50 of the 787-3 and -8
models in 2004, it was a record order for a new commercial
airliner. All Nippon ordered 30 787-3 and 20 787-8 planes.
“We have not received information that the 787-3
deliveries will be delayed and hope they will be made as
scheduled, said All Nippon spokesman Atsushi Asano.
Japan Airlines Corp. is the only other carrier that ordered
the short-haul version, bringing its total sales to 43. By
comparison there are about 670 orders for the main model, called
the -8, which is due to enter service next year, and more than
150 for the long-range -9 model, Gunter said.
Japan Airlines, which has ordered 13 787-3 and 17 787-8
planes, has not received notice from Boeing about when it will
receive the aircraft, said spokesman Atsushi Abe.
“We will absorb the impact from the overall delay and hope
Boeing will proceed with the deliveries in a timely manner, he
said.
Short-Haul Model
Runte said the short-haul model now accounts for less than
5 percent of Boeings orders for the 787 and that “I dont
expect that percentage to climb over the life of the program
because most airlines will seek the longer-range models.
Chicago-based Boeing fell $1.99 to $82.01 at 4 p.m. in New
York Stock Exchange trading. Toulouse, France-based Airbus SAS
is the worlds largest commercial planemaker.
The main model, the -8, will carry as many as 250 passengers
and have a flight range of as much as 9,750 miles. The version
bought by the Japanese carriers will hold as many as 330 seats
and will only fly up to 4,000 miles. The -9 model will have a
range of up to 10,100 miles with as many as 290 passengers.
Before the Dreamliner was delayed, the short-haul model was
scheduled to go into service in 2010, after the main version and
before the long-range aircraft.
Rather than spending time on the 787-3, “which is still a
ways off for us, some employees have been shifted to other
tasks, “including work on improving the 787-8 and meeting our
nearer-term schedule requirements, Gunter said. “Theres
still a low level of work going on right now on the 787-3.
Second Delay
Flightglobal.coms Flightblogger Web site, reporting from
the Singapore air show, said in an item dated earlier today that
Boeing was considering suspending the short-haul version in a
move that might be a precursor to canceling it. The site
reported a slowdown in the overall 787 program in January,
before Boeing announced its second delay.
“The 787-3 today is still part of our plan for the program
and still being offered, Randy Tinseth, Boeings chief
marketing officer, told Bloomberg News at the air show on Feb.
18. “The model was very important to our launch program and is
very specific to the market for the Japanese airlines that
ordered them, but they dont have much reach beyond that
market.
Tokyo-based All Nippon, Japans largest domestic airline,
will be the first to fly the Dreamliner. The carrier, which had
originally expected to get its first plane in May, has said it
may seek compensation from Boeing for the delay.
