Boeing 787 launch operator All Nippon Airways (ANA) is seeking compensation from Boeing for the delays to the aircraft programme.
"We've been talking to them for a while. Compensation in situations like this is a 'regular procedure' between the manufacturer and operator," says ANA president and CEO Shinichiro Ito.
The Star Alliance carrier is scheduled to receive its first 787 in the mid-first quarter of 2011, after a series of several delays to the programme.
While acknowledging that the delays were disappointing, Ito says they will be "worth it" if Boeing delivers on its promise to deliver a better and more efficient aircraft.
"We are confident that they will keep to their latest announced date," says Ito, who adds that ANA has not received any notice of further delays to the first delivery.
Earlier this month, sources told Flightglobal that the airframer is reviewing its 787 delivery schedule as it looks at how to handle the extensive amount of work required for the airframes to meet certification standards.
While ANA believes that its first delivery is still on track, the airline says it is uncertain how many aircraft it will receive in 2011.
"We are asking Boeing to fix the delivery schedule as soon as possible," says Ito.
The latest delay to the first delivery, announced in August, was believed to be driven by the 2 August failure of a production Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 'Package A' engine during routine testing.
Rolls-Royce has rolled out a modified and improved version of the engine, referred to as the 'Package B' powerplant.
ANA says it has requested for 'Package B' engines to be installed on its later 787 units, although it is uncertain how many of ANA's 787s will have the modified powerplants eventually.
"The first 787s, however, will still have 'Package A' engines," says Ito.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
