Boeing delays 787-9, 747-8 passenger plane

Published 3:24 pm Wednesday, October 26, 2011

What Boeing executives didn’t say in this morning’s third quarter earnings conference call:

Boeing has pushed back the delivery of its larger 787-9 to 2014 from 2013.

From Boeing’s regulatory filing: “With successful completion of the 787-9 critical design review we have assessed the schedule and first delivery is now expected in early 2014, although we continue to look for opportunities to regain schedule.”

In July, Air New Zealand and Qantas officials said they were expecting a delay to their 787-9 deliveries, but Boeing denied the report. The Wall Street Journal reports that Air New Zealand doesn’t expect its first 787-9 until 2014.

The jet maker no longer plans to deliver the first 747-8 passenger plane this year, pushing that date into first quarter 2012.

Also from today’s filing: “The 747-8 Intercontinental remains on track for certification in the fourth quarter. First delivery is now scheduled for first quarter 2012 due to a delay in flight testing and the time required to incorporate all flight test driven changes.”