Airlines are lining up for compensation after Boeing announced a further six-month delay for its new 787 Dreamliner plane.
The US aircraft manufacturer announced the third major delay for the revolutionary plane yesterday, promising first delivery in the third quarter of 2009, more than a year after the original target of May this year.
It also said there is an indefinite delay for a short-range model favoured by two Japanese carriers.
Air New Zealand and Air India said they will seek compensation. While All Nippon Airways, due to get the first 787 off the assembly line, and Japan Airlines say they both plan claims after assessing the impact.
Australia's Qantas, the plane's second-biggest buyer ordering 65 planes, said it has already put in a claim for redress after previous delays and was due substantial damages.
More than 50 airlines are waiting for 892 Boeing 787s, worth a combined $145 billion at list prices.
Northwest Airlines said it would fly older planes for longer, while waiting for Boeing to address problems with the carbon-composite Dreamliner, which the Chicago-based firm had touted as a breakthrough that would change aviation.
Japan Airlines and ANA, the two customers for a shorter-range 787-3 variant of the Dreamliner, will be among those waiting longest for their orders to be filled.
Boeing indefinitely delayed deliveries of the 787-3 model, saying it would focus on the standard 787-8 and then a larger, stretched 787-9 variant.
If delays on the plane get even longer, airlines might postpone or cancel orders, which would likely boost sales of Boeing's established 767 and 777 models and increase interest in Airbus's competing A350 XWB.
