DAE: delay in 787 won't hit plans

The Middle East orders for Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner will not be impacted following the almost 15-month delay to the aircraft’s delivery schedule.

The US aircraft manufacturer announced on Wednesday that delivery of the Dreamliner – pitched against the Airbus A350 XWB – has now been pushed to the third quarter of 2009. This is the third time in six months that the aircraft has been postponed. First deliveries were scheduled for May this year.

Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, with 15 Boeing 787s on order, said the delays would not affect its plans. “As of now the delay does not impact us at all as we would expect Boeing to increase production of the B-787 from 2010 onwards, and, therefore, we are still hopeful of receiving our deliveries on schedule,” Bob Genise, Chief Executive Officer of DAE Capital, told Emirates Business, adding that first deliveries for DAE commence in 2016, with additional deliveries in 2017 and 2018.

He also said since the aerospace company is not expecting any delays to its delivery positions, there are no compensation issues involved. Bahrain-based Gulf Air, meanwhile, with 24 Dreamliners on order for a total value of $6 billion (Dh22bn) at catalogue prices, is also hopeful it will get the plane on time.

“We do not plan to cancel our order. We are hoping we would have the plane in time, in 2016, which is our date of delivery for the 787,” said Adnan Malek, Gulf Air’s acting head of corporate communications. He said there is no question of seeking compensation.

Qatar Airways, whose executives were not available for comment, has ordered 30 Dreamliners worth almost $5bn at list prices, with 30 more options. Deliveries are scheduled from mid-2010 to 2014.

Etihad Airways, which was last year evaluating the Airbus A350 against the Boeing 787, has still not made a decision.