Boeing Says 787 Schedules Unchanged

Boeing said Tuesday that the delivery schedule for its new 787 aircraft remains unchanged, despite reports about one quality test problem related to the fuselage. The first aircraft is expected to be delivered in 2008, but like any new aircraft, the new design must undergo extensive testing prior to Federal Aviation Administration certification to carry passengers. Chinese media have been reporting that the 787 program might have delays due to the recent test failure but Boeing says "no," attributing the difficulty to different tools and production processes. Boeing says it knows how to fix the problem. China is one of Boeing's biggest customers; six Chinese airlines agreed last year to buy 60 787s valued at $7.2 million. One of those airlines, Xiamen Airlines, part of China Southern Airlines, recently asked to replace its order for three 787s with six smaller 737s, but that apparently was because Xiamen has decided to focus on regional routes for which the 737 is more appropriate.