Australian carrier Qantas Airways announced today that it has cancelled orders for 15 Boeing 787s and deferred deliveries for 15 additional Dreamliners.
The announcement comes just two days after the Boeing Co. scrapped the scheduled first flight of its mostly composite 787 Dreamliner, which already is nearly two years late.
However, in a statement, Qantas said it had began discussions with Boeing before this latest delay.
“The agreement we have reached with Boeing will provide greater certainty going forward in terms of our fleet renewal and growth strategies as well as broader resource planning and matching capacity with demand,” said Alan Joyce, Qantas chief executive.
“The latest delay is disappointing, but we do not expect it to impact the Qantas Group given these changes to our delivery program. We remain committed to the aircraft as the right choice.”
In the agreement reached with Boeing, Qantas said it will defer the delivery of 15 787-8 aircraft for four years and cancel orders for 15 787-9 jets.
This reduces Qantas’ total firm 787 orders to 50 from 65. The airline retains options for 50 additional Dreamliner jets.
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