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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Dreamliner: Boeing defends 787 batteries | Dreamliner: Boeing defends 787 batteries |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Boeing has backed the battery used in the Dreamliner after Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways said they changed a number of them in the past few months. | Boeing has backed the battery used in the Dreamliner after Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways said they changed a number of them in the past few months. |
| Battery problems have led to the grounding of the entire fleet of 787s. | Battery problems have led to the grounding of the entire fleet of 787s. |
| Boeing said while the replacement rate was "slightly higher" than usual, the changes were "routine maintenance" and were not due to any safety issues. | Boeing said while the replacement rate was "slightly higher" than usual, the changes were "routine maintenance" and were not due to any safety issues. |
| The airline backed the battery as it reported record revenues of $22bn (£14bn) for the last quarter of 2012. | The airline backed the battery as it reported record revenues of $22bn (£14bn) for the last quarter of 2012. |
| But its net income dropped 30% from a year ago, when it benefited from an unusually low tax bill, to $978m. | But its net income dropped 30% from a year ago, when it benefited from an unusually low tax bill, to $978m. |
| While the latest quarterly results pre-date the grounding of the fleet, there have been concerns that the move may hurt its earnings in the near future. | While the latest quarterly results pre-date the grounding of the fleet, there have been concerns that the move may hurt its earnings in the near future. |
| Those fears grew after Boeing cancelled the deliveries of planes in the wake of the battery problems. | Those fears grew after Boeing cancelled the deliveries of planes in the wake of the battery problems. |
| However, the planemaker, which has orders for more than 800 Dreamliners, said the issue had not affected its production plans. | However, the planemaker, which has orders for more than 800 Dreamliners, said the issue had not affected its production plans. |
| It said it had not asked any of its suppliers to slow down deliveries of parts. | It said it had not asked any of its suppliers to slow down deliveries of parts. |
| Jim McNerney, chief executive of Boeing, said that it was "business as usual", adding that the firm planned to go ahead with a planned ramp-up in production. | Jim McNerney, chief executive of Boeing, said that it was "business as usual", adding that the firm planned to go ahead with a planned ramp-up in production. |
| "Our plan is to continue production of the 787 and to continue the development of the wide-body airplanes," he added. | "Our plan is to continue production of the 787 and to continue the development of the wide-body airplanes," he added. |
| 'Feel good' | 'Feel good' |
| The Dreamliners were grounded after a battery in a Japan Airlines 787 plane caught fire in Boston, while an All Nippon Airways flight was forced to make an emergency landing because of a battery malfunction earlier this month. | The Dreamliners were grounded after a battery in a Japan Airlines 787 plane caught fire in Boston, while an All Nippon Airways flight was forced to make an emergency landing because of a battery malfunction earlier this month. |
| On Wednesday, All Nippon Airways said it had replaced batteries 10 times over the past few months, while Japan Airlines said it had done so in a "few cases" over the past few months. | On Wednesday, All Nippon Airways said it had replaced batteries 10 times over the past few months, while Japan Airlines said it had done so in a "few cases" over the past few months. |
| Boeing said that it was carrying out an investigation to find out what caused the battery malfunctions. | Boeing said that it was carrying out an investigation to find out what caused the battery malfunctions. |
| "Nothing that we have learned has told us that we have made the wrong choice on the battery technology," said Mr McNerney. | "Nothing that we have learned has told us that we have made the wrong choice on the battery technology," said Mr McNerney. |
| "We feel good about the battery technology and its fit for the airplane. | |
| "We have just got to get to the root cause of these incidents and we will take a look at the data as it evolves, but there is nothing that we have learned that causes us to question it at this stage." | "We have just got to get to the root cause of these incidents and we will take a look at the data as it evolves, but there is nothing that we have learned that causes us to question it at this stage." |
| The incidents have also prompted authorities in both the US and Japan to launch inquiries to try to find out what caused the battery problems. | The incidents have also prompted authorities in both the US and Japan to launch inquiries to try to find out what caused the battery problems. |
| But earlier this week, Japan's transport ministry said that safety inspectors had found no faults with the battery, leading to concerns that the planes might remain grounded for a while as further investigations may be needed to sort out the issue. | But earlier this week, Japan's transport ministry said that safety inspectors had found no faults with the battery, leading to concerns that the planes might remain grounded for a while as further investigations may be needed to sort out the issue. |