Boeing’s supply glitch hits Maharajah’s plans

MUMBAI: Air India’s induction of Boeing 787 Dreamliner, scheduled for September next year, will be delayed to 2009 after the US manufacturer announced last week that it had problems with suppliers. The Indian flag carrier, among the early customers for the aircraft has ordered 27 of the planes, and was slated to receive them in September next year.

The aircraft were to be used to expand Air India’s services to Tokyo, Australia and Washington. The Indian carrier will be compensated for the impact on its schedule, though the amount is still to be decided. Both Boeing and Airbus, who between them control the global market for large jets, are currently being haunted by glitches that have slowed down the manufacturing process for their flagship aircraft programmes.

The delays come at a time when the two are struggling to cope with a huge demand from a resurgent airline industry. Airbus on Monday delivered its first A380 to Singapore Airlines, almost a year behind schedule. Only one A380 will be delivered this year, as opposed to the original plan for about 25. Industry analysts have estimated that the delay will cost Airbus promoter EADS about $6 billion in profits over four years. Airbus CEO Tom Enders said in Toulouse that accelerating the A380 production will not be easy. Only 13 of the planes will be delivered to airline customers next year.

Speaking to ET on the issue, Boeing senior vice-president (sales) Dinesh Keskar, said, Air India will be compensated for the delays just like the other carriers who had scheduled for the 787 induction. Details of the new schedule are still being worked out, he said. Boeing’s other customer for the 787 in India is Jet Airways. However, deliveries to Jet are unlikely to be impacted, as they were scheduled only in 2011, by which time the creases are expected to be ironed out.

Airlines the world over are keenly awaiting deliveries of the 787 Dreamliner, because the aircraft promises to lead to a cost saving of about 20% compared to existing aircraft. The savings result from the aircraft being more aerodynamic, lighter (since it is made almost entirely of composites instead of aluminium) and the fact that it uses more efficient engines. Boeing has got orders for 750 aircraft. The Seattle-based manufacturer has said it will try and limit the delays over the next two years. Air India sources said the carrier is in dialogue with Boeing on the revised schedule for the Dreamliner.

and will in the meanwhile focus on the integration of the other Boeing aircraft. The airline has historically been an important customer for the US aircraft maker, a fact underlined by its order for 68 Boeing aircraft worth over $11 billion, the largest to be placed last year.