The first new American commercial jetliner built in more than a decade - the Boeing 787 Dreamliner - will not be available for another six months, Boeing said on Wednesday. The company said early problems assembling the first 787s have disrupted the schedule, and first deliveries that had been scheduled for next May are now targeted for late November or December 2008. The first test flight, already pushed back once from the initial target of earlier this fall, now is not anticipated until around the end of the first quarter of 2008. Chairman and CEO Jim McNerney expressed disappointment over the delays but said the company remains confident about the 787's design and supporting technologies. “Our most important commitment is to deliver an airplane that performs to expectations over the long term,” he said. The 787 is the company's first all-new jet since airlines started flying the 777 in 1995. It will be the world's first large commercial airplane made mostly of carbon-fiber composites, which are lighter, more durable and less prone to corrosion than aluminum. Boeing said the postponement will not materially affect its earnings or guidance for next year, though the stock market was affected by the news. On September 5, Boeing formally pushed back the first test flight to mid-November or mid-December due to complications with final assembly and finalizing flight-control software. The company first acknowledged problems meeting the original test-flight schedule in August when it cited ongoing challenges with production work, including parts shortages, and remaining software and systems integration activities. Boeing shares, which had moved higher before the late-morning announcement, quickly tumbled and shed $2.91, or 2.8 percent, to $98.54 in afternoon trading.
