Qantas cancels 15 B787-9, defers 15 more, Boeing’s Dreamliner nightmare continues

In another blow to Boeing, Qantas, the largest airline customer for the B787 programme, has announced plans to defer, with "mutual agreement" the delivery of 15 B787-8 aircraft by four years and cancel orders for 15 B787-9 scheduled for delivery in 2014/2015. The move takes to 73 the total number of B787 cancellations by airlines around the world this year - or around 8% of total orders for the aircraft, whose maiden test flight was this week deferred for an unspecified period. As one of the major customers, Qantas' move may be the prelude to further cancellation action.