Boeing Adjusts 747-8 Program Production and Delivery Schedule

[Saj_A]

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/081114/aqf014.html?.v=73

Friday November 14, 8:30 am ET

- Deliveries of 747-8 Freighter to begin third quarter of 2010; deliveries of 747-8 Intercontinental passenger model to begin second quarter of 2011.
- Company working with customers to minimize disruption.

EVERETT, Wash., Nov. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Boeing (NYSE: BA - News) today announced an adjusted schedule for production and delivery of the 747-8 Freighter and Intercontinental airplanes.

The revised schedule is based on a production and flight-test plan developed in conjunction with the company's suppliers that provides additional time for addressing issues that have slowed the program's progress. Those issues include supply chain delays driven by design changes to the airplane, limited availability of engineering resources inside Boeing, and the recent Machinists' strike that halted production in the company's factories.

Delivery of the first 747-8 Freighter will move from late 2009 to the third quarter of 2010. The first 747-8 Intercontinental passenger jet delivery moves from late 2010 to the second quarter of 2011.

"Our entire team has worked hard to mitigate growing schedule risk on this program but have been unable to overcome the collective impact of work statement increases to the original design, a tight supply of engineering resources, and the recent Machinists' strike," said Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Scott Carson. "We are clearly disappointed in what this schedule change means for our customers, employees, suppliers and other stakeholders. However, it is the appropriate and prudent decision to ensure a successful program, and we are committed to working with our customers to mitigate any disruption it causes them."

The revised schedule is the result of a comprehensive assessment of the production system and flight-test plan that began in late August and concluded with the incorporation of the impact of the recent strike.

"The remaining work on the 747-8 program is well defined," said Ross R. Bogue, vice president and general manager - 747 Program and Everett site. "This schedule adjustment provides the time we need to finish that work and bring both airplanes to market successfully for our customers."

The risk of a schedule adjustment on the program was previously identified and was provisioned for in Boeing's third quarter financial results. The company will provide updated financial guidance and a post-strike assessment of the schedule for all its commercial airplane programs at a later date.

[Saj_A]

777F delayed too:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?p...d=aELNxkixQZ6w

[Saj_A]

LH still seems committed to the 747-8I, as is Boeing...

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/...1_FORTUNE5.htm

[Mike W]

What's really going to happen? Will other Airlines wait and see how it goes and then commit? (asuming this will happen in our lifetimes)

Will other Airlines commit before then?

Will other Airlines ignore it as they appear to be doing right now or does Boeing have other Airlines in the wings ready to tip over the line?

[Shameel Kumar]

Originally Posted by Mike W

What's really going to happen? Will other Airlines wait and see how it goes and then commit? (asuming this will happen in our lifetimes)

Will other Airlines commit before then?

Will other Airlines ignore it as they appear to be doing right now or does Boeing have other Airlines in the wings ready to tip over the line?

Who knows...

There's still the lingering rumour of TG having a serious look at the 748i. Now with these continued delays I think airlines will be more cautious about committig to the 748i (not that there are many airlines waiting in the wings anyway). Couple that with the short list of airlines who haven't already committed to the A380 + 787/A350 fleet strategy and again you'd have to think that any airline who is still interested in the 748i would wait till performance figures from test data comes in. I mean, it's not like delivery slots are disappearing at a fast rate like they did with the 787.

Bit sad that the last successful passenger variant of the 747 was the -400 which was launched about 20 years ago. The -400ER didn't do well, and now the -8i is struggle.

Makes you wonder though... an A380 fitted with Trent XWB engines being launched around 2012 would really relegate the 748 to a freighter. The efficiency gains over the 748i would make this aircraft more attractive even if it is 'mis-used'. Nonetheless, I have a B747-8i desktop model right here beside me, so I'm hoping for a bright future for the -8 Intercontinental.

[Saj_A]

The first 777F for Air France is due to be rolled out of the Everett Factory easly Thurs morning, Seattle time...