Lufthansa hit by Boeing 747-8 delays
Boeing has announced yet another production delay, with initial deliveries of the 747-8 programme - the US manufacturer's answer to the Airbus A380 - now officially delayed by up to nine months.
Progress on the 747-8 had been slowed by design changes to the aircraft, 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.
For airlines, the widespread delays to new aircraft programmes are an increasing source of frustration.
Lufthansa, the biggest customer in the B747-8 programme with 20 firm orders and 20 options for the passenger version, has also been stung by delays to its 15 A380s.
Boeing 747-8 programme customers
|
Operator |
Aircraft Variant |
Order |
On Option |
LoI |
Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Lufthansa |
Passenger |
20 |
20 |
|
40 |
|
Freighter |
12 |
14 |
|
26 |
|
|
Freighter |
13 |
2 |
10 |
25 |
|
|
Freighter |
10 |
14 |
|
24 |
|
|
Freighter |
10 |
10 |
|
20 |
|
|
Freighter |
14 |
5 |
|
19 |
|
|
Freighter |
5 |
5 |
|
10 |
|
|
Unidentified |
Business Jet |
8 |
|
|
8 |
|
Freighter |
5 |
2 |
|
7 |
|
|
Freighter |
5 |
|
|
5 |
|
|
Passenger |
|
|
4 |
4 |
|
|
Freighter |
4 |
|
|
4 |
|
|
Total |
106 |
14 |
192 |
Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO, Scott Carson, stated, “our entire team has worked hard to mitigate growing schedule risk on this programme, 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”.
He added the manufacturer is disappointed in what this schedule change means for our customers, employees, suppliers and other stakeholders and it would work with its customers to “mitigate any disruption it causes them”.