Boeing has delayed first flight of the 747-8 from the last quarter of this year to early next year, and taken a US$1bn (A$1.1bn) pre-tax charge against its third quarter profit result due to “increased production costs and difficult market conditions affecting the 747-8 program”.
“As the program assembled major components of initial 747-8 Freighters during the third quarter, it became clear that late maturity of engineering designs has caused greater than expected re-work and disruption in manufacturing,” the company said in an October 6 statement.
“The company now expects first flight of the 747-8 Freighter to occur by early next year with the flight test program taking place in 2010. First delivery of the 747-8 Freighter is now expected in the fourth quarter of 2010. First delivery of the Intercontinental passenger variant remains scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2011.”
The delay follows a program review instigated by new Boeing Commercial Airplanes boss Jim Albaugh, ‘FlightBlogger’ reports.
It is the second delay for the 747-8 program Boeing has announced this year.
