Boeing’s new 787 program has already reached an aviation milestone: the fastest commercial model to reach 500 orders, and interestingly the firm yet to produce its first 787 model. Boeing has recently announced that Japan Airlines Corp. has placed order for five more of its mid-sized 787 jets, worth more than $750 million at list prices. The latest order takes JAL’s orders for Boeing’s new lightweight, carbon fiber plane to 35. Boeing has further said that it now has taken 514 orders for 787s since its launch in April 2004 and it also acknowledged its position as it’s most successful Boeing plane launch on record.
The first assembly of this new jetliner is expected to start in May this year and its sprawling global supply chain appears to be running smoothly. Moreover, it is a huge challenge for the company to execute its production at very high perfection level on the 787 to live up to the high expectations.
Airlines and investors are hopeful that Boeing can produce this commercial jet with negligible hindrance and complications. However, Boeing’s production blunder on its 737 and 747 programs in the late 1990s, and the recent factory delays of Airbus’ A380 super-jumbo jet, are glaring examples of how unexpectedly things can damage new aircraft production.
The 787 has evidently outshined the order speed of the next-generation 737, which had 476 firm orders by the time the first plane was rolled from the Renton plant in 1996. And by the first flight in 1997, the next-generation 737 program had up to 502 orders. The first 787 is planned to be delivered to All Nippon Airways of Japan in May 2008. Boeing has affirmed that the program remains on schedule to meet that key delivery date.
In the meanwhile, Airbus is vigorously looking for a matching answer to the hot-selling 787, earlier it had offered the A350 as a warmed-over version of the popular A330-200. However, after potential customers criticized the model on the ground that A350 was no match against the 787, Airbus was forced to announce a major redesign.
On the other hand, Airbus, though at present in troubled phase, is gearing up to combat growing influence of Boeing. John Leahy, the Airbus sales chief, has indicated that the firm is hopeful to secure at least 200 firm orders for the A350 by the end of this year. Airbus had already received 100 firm orders for its A350 before it was sent for redesigning.
