Further delays to Dreamliner’s first flight, delivery plans

EVERETT, Washington – Boeing has revised its plan for first flight and initial deliveries of the 787 Dreamliner that includes additional schedule margin to reduce risk of further delays on the program.

The first flight of the all-new airplane will move into the fourth quarter of this year instead of the second quarter, and first delivery is now planned for the third quarter to 2009 instead of the first quarter.

While significant progress has been made assembling Airplane #1, Boeing said the first flight is being rescheduled due to slower than expected completion of work from supplier facilities into Boeing's final assembly line, unanticipated rework, and the addition of margin into the testing schedule.

The new delivery schedule, meanwhile, is based on a more conservative production plan developed with the 787 partner team. That schedule now targets approximately 25 deliveries in 2009.