Boeing confirms Dreamliner delays

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US plane maker Boeing has confirmed its new 787 Dreamliner faces further delays, as it continues to struggle with production problems.

Deliveries of the plane will not now begin until 2009, rather than late 2008, Boeing said.

The first test flight has also been moved "from the end of the first quarter of this year to around the end of the second quarter", the firm said.

Boeing had received 802 orders for the Dreamliner by the start of 2008.

This makes the plane its fastest-selling model.

'Deeply disappointed'

The new delay, estimated at three-months, puts it 10 months behind schedule.

Boeing chief executive Scott Carson said that while the design and technologies behind the plane remained sound, the firm had continued "to be challenged by start-up issues in our factory and in our extended global supply-chain".

"We are deeply disappointed by what this delay means for our customers, and we are committed to working closely with them as we assess the impact on our delivery schedules," Mr Carson added.

Boeing's first all-new jet since 1995, it is the only big commercial aircraft made mostly of carbon fibre rather than aluminium.

It is billed as the most environmentally-friendly commercial jet built to date.

Boeing says the 787 is much more fuel-efficient than its competitors and produces 20% less carbon dioxide.

British Airways has ordered 24 Dreamliners and rival UK carrier Virgin Atlantic is buying 15 of the jets. UK holiday airline First Choice has ordered 12 planes.

The first carrier to receive the plane will be Japan's All Nippon Airways which had initially expected the planes in May.