Chicago (IL) – Airlines will have to wait for the first 787 planes a bit longer:  A month ago, Boeing told analysts that the company’s most anticipated plane in decades will see an October 2008 delivery. However, Boeing today said that it needs additional time to complete assembly of the first airplane and now expects the first 787 to be delivered in “early 2009”.

Boeing blames the rather surprising delay to “start-up issues in our factory and in our extended global supply-chain”.  Apparently, Boeing was hit with additional work on the factory floor that was originally intended to be done by its suppliers. Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Scott Carson said that while “solid progress has been made on the assembly of Airplane #1, the rate at which jobs are being completed has not improved sufficiently to maintain the current schedule.”

So, instead of a first delivery in October 2008, the first plane is now expected to be given to the first customer in “early 2009”.  

It remains unclear when Boeing in fact will be able to complete the first plane and get it into the air. Back in December, 787 vice president and general manager Pat Shanahan said that a first power-on of the jet is scheduled for January with a first flight following during the first quarter. That schedule has been scrapped and Boeing now says that it “will be working with its customers and suppliers to assess the specific impacts of the schedule change on the 787's flight test program and entry into service.”

Boeing's told investors that as a result of the delay, the company will “update” its 2008 financial guidance when the company holds its fourth-quarter 2007 earnings conference call on January 30.
Boeing shares were up about 1% to $78.39 in early Wednesday trading.