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SINGAPORE: US aircraft-maker Boeing said it is on track to launch the first flight of its long-delayed 787 Dreamliner by the end of this year.
Randy J Tinseth, vice president, Marketing (Commercial Planes), Boeing, said: "We continue to target the first flight of the airplane by the end of the year. We're on track to do that.
"We have a great deal of work that's yet to be done. Once that first airplane flies, we go into about an eight or nine month flight test programme."
According to some reports, the first flight is expected around December 22. The 787 Dreamliner is now more than two years behind schedule.
It has gone through six delays and has cost Boeing some US$2.5 billion in the last quarter alone due to development costs associated with the programme. But Boeing said it continues to see strong demand for the Dreamliners.
Mr Tinseth said: "The demand for that airplane ... going up because passengers really want more frequent non-stop service when you fly. We have clearly disappointed our customers by being late. We've disappointed ourselves.
"We lost a bit of our credibility in the market place. So, we have to start delivering on our promises to gain back their credibility. But the fact remains that this is an airplane that has a wonderful value proposition to our customers.
"We actually launched the airplane in 2004 when the price of oil was US$38 a barrel. Today, it's close to US$80. So, the value proposition today is even stronger than it was when we launched it."
Japan's All Nippon Airways was initially scheduled to receive the first 787 Dreamliner in May 2008.
Boeing now expects the first aircraft to be delivered in late 2010. Altogether, there are now 840 orders for the 787 Dreamliner.
Other airlines that have placed orders for the aircraft include Singapore Airlines, Air India, China Eastern Airlines, Japan Airlines, Etihad and Qatar Airways. - CNA/vm
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