Flight International online news 10:00GMT: Boeing has reduced its 2005 delivery forecast by 30 aircraft to 290, citing the effects of the September strike by its International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM)-represented technicians.
This shortfall will not, however, change the US manufacturer’s 2006 target of 395 deliveries, which is based on an increase across the company’s entire commercial product line to reduce its backlog, which currently stands at $100 billion.
Only part of the lost deliveries will be included in the 2006 schedule, says Boeing.
Boeing says its current guidance does not fully account for the 21 deliveries directly lost during the strike or the subsequent nine deliveries lost in the fourth quarter while the manufacturer re-opened its production lines.
More details are expected in the New Year, although Boeing says that no orders have been lost because of the delay.
DARREN SHANNON/WASHINGTON
Source: Flight International
