Boeing has temporarily suspended work on the short-haul version of its new 787 jetliner to keep it on schedule to deliver the first of two long-range models to customers by early 2009.
Boeing has won only 43 orders for the 787-3, which is designed to fly up to 3,500 miles carrying as many as 330 passengers.
The original plan called for the first of those planes to be delivered to Japan's All Nippon Airways in mid-2010, but Boeing spokeswoman Lori Gunter said it's too early to tell whether the company will meet that target.
Boeing started shifting the 787-3 work force last week, and has not determined how long they will focus on the 787-8 before resuming work on the short-haul plane.
Boeing's 787 programme has been hit by a series of delays caused largely by work that had to be done on the final assembly line after it was not handled at supplier factories as planned.
Originally, Boeing said it would begin test-flying the 787 in August or September of last year and deliver the plane to All Nippon Airways this May. Now the company will start flight tests by the end of June and deliver the plane in early 2009.
To date, Boeing has won more than 850 orders for the 787, including 642 for the 787-8, which will carry up to 250 passengers about 9,500 miles, and 172 for the 787-9, which will seat as many as 290 passengers up to 9,800 miles.
|
