The Hindu Business Line : Delivery of B787 to Air India may get delayed

New Delhi, Oct 11 The global expansion plans of Air India could suffer a temporary set back with the US-based aircraft manufacturer, Boeing, announcing a six-month delay in the launch of the Boeing 787 aircraft, popularly called the ‘Dreamliner’.

In a statement, Boeing announced the delay in its planned initial deliveries of the Boeing 787 due to continued challenges in completing assembly of the first airplanes. “Deliveries of the Boeing 787 are now slated to begin in late November or December 2008, versus an original target of May 2008. First flight is now anticipated around the end of the first quarter 2008,” the statement adds.

Air India, which was to receive the first of the 27 Boeing 787 aircraft in the third quarter of next year, was to be the third global airline after All Nippon Airways which is to be the launch customer.

The production delay was unlikely to result in any set back for the planned delivery for Jet Airways which is to receive the first of the 10 aircraft in 2011. Air India and Jet Airways are the only two airlines from India to order the aircraft.

Delivery schedule

Sources told Business Line that the delay could push back by six months the first delivery of this aircraft variety to Air India. “The initial few aircraft being delivered to Air India could get delayed. But as the programme moves ahead and Boeing scales up production, the delivery schedule could be back to what was originally planned. After all a small delay in the ground breaking project for a housing project does not mean that the entire housing complex work will be delayed ,” sources added.

The delay, however, could work to the advantage of Air India, as it is not uncommon for such contracts to have compensation for both the manufacturer and the airline in case either parties delays the deal. Boeing and Air India officials refused to comment on the compensation that might be paid.

In recent times, the European aircraft manufacturer, Airbus Industrie paid compensation to a number of airline including Kingfisher Airline for the delay of almost a year in the first Airbus A-380 entering service.