Boeing has made no changes to its 787 delivery schedule, but launch customer All Nippon Airways (ANA) is girding internally for another minor slip.
An ANA source at the Phoenix International Aviation Symposium says the carrier expects Boeing to make its best effort to deliver the first aircraft in late 2010, as Boeing's latest 787 schedule promises.
However, the carrier is bracing to receive the first aircraft in first quarter 2011, the source says.
A Boeing spokesman reconfirmed that the 787 schedule has not changed.
"Our plan is to deliver the first 787 Dreamliner to launch customer ANA in fourth quarter 2010," the spokesman says.
While ANA's reaction does not appear to be based on specific input from Boeing, the carrier's internal stance reflects a lingering uncertainty following a series of costly 787 delays.
As the launch customer, ANA so far has waited on its 55 787s currently on order for nearly two years. Boeing originally promised to deliver the first 787 to ANA in May 2008, but is now running about 2.5 years behind schedule.
In the interim, ANA has shuffled the mix of 787s within its order, converting 28 short-haul 787-3s into the longer-range 787-8.
Meanwhile, ANA also has ordered five Boeing 767-300ERs as a stopgap pending the arrival of the 787.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
