Virgin’s got Blues over production schedule

Published 9:00 pm Monday, May 29, 2006

Why is Boeing looking for ways to increase 787 production? Simple — airlines are clamoring to get their hands on the plane.

One customer that has waited — and thus now is wanting — is Australia’s Virgin Blue. An airline executive told the Herald Sun in Melbourne http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,19311666%255E664,00.html that Virgin Blue’s in a bind: It wants to start service to the United States, to compete with Qantas, but it’s handicapped because it can’t get the planes it wants in a timely fashion.

Key Quote: “The nation’s number two carrier yesterday disclosed it was locked out of the production schedule for the new super efficient long-haul 787 airliner being built by traditional supplier Boeing. … Managing director Brett Godfrey said that Virgin Blue could not wait until 2010 or 2011 when Boeing would have planes available.”

The airline could consider 777s, A350s or “A360-600s” as alternatives, the paper said. Perhaps that’s supposed to be A340-600s.

Virgin Blue now flies an all 737 fleet, and is in the market for more, Godfrey said.