Boeing Co. on Friday said it still plans to deliver its first long-delayed 787 Dreamliner in the first quarter of 2011.
The statement followed a report in Aviation Week, citing people familiar with the situation, saying the world’s second-largest plane maker has told some customers they could face delays of as much as 10 months.
Shares of Boeing fell more than 2 percent in after-hours trading on Friday after a published report said the plane maker has told several early customers of the 787 Dreamliner of more delivery delays.
“We don’t comment on the individual delivery schedules of our customers,” said Boeing spokeswoman Loretta Gunter.
“We work with our customers on delivery schedules of individual airplanes across all models,” she said. “Delivery dates can change for a variety of reasons.”
“Today’s press reports about new 787 delivery timing for several customers appear to be based on the program schedule announced in August,” Gunter said.
The trade publication Aviation Week reported on Friday that Korean Air would get its first 787 in August 2012, 10 months later than previously scheduled, for example.
The first customer set to receive a 787 is Japan’s All Nippon Airways (9202.T).
In recent weeks, there was sporadic talk by industry sources of more 787 delays, which could not be confirmed.
The light-weight, carbon-composite Dreamliner is nearly three years behind schedule after repeated delays due to engineering snags and problems with the supply chain.
The company said it would tell suppliers to halt deliveries of sections for its 787 Dreamliner for two weeks because of delays at the company that makes a key part for the tail of the plane.
The most recent delay was announced in August when Boeing pushed back first delivery from the fourth quarter of 2010 into the first quarter of 2011 because of a delay in the availability of a Rolls-Royce Plc. engine needed for the final phases of flight testing.
Boeing has taken orders for 847 787s depending on the model, an unprecedented number of orders for a plane still in development. The plane lists for $150 million to $205.5 million.
Shares of Boeing were down 2.2 percent to $69.70 in extended trade from their $71.27 close on the New York Stock Exchange on Friday.
