Boeing (NYSE:BA) has informed airlines and parts vendors that it expects to restart 787 Dreamliner deliveries in the second half of 2022, according to Reuters.
Resuming deliveries later this year will be crucial for Boeing’s plans to gradually ramp up the 787 production and support the supply chain that has been facing significant challenges in the recent period.
Boeing initially planned to resume 787 deliveries this month, but the planemaker was forced to push back deliveries to May, with reports suggesting that further delays can be expected as the company continues to deal with inspections and repairs of structural flaws in roughly 100 787 jets.
Reuters reports that Boeing has informed clients that deliveries would continue in the second half of this year, with the third quarter appearing as the most realistic target. The company will not make a public projection of when it will be allowed to resume deliveries.
The overall cost of the production delay is estimated to be around $5.5 billion.
A spokesperson of Boeing said the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will decide when will deliveries of 787 resume.
"As we've said, we are taking the time needed to ensure conformance to our exacting specifications. Safety dictates the timeline," an FAA spokesperson said.
The FAA pulled Boeing’s ability to self-certify 787 airplanes two months ago, saying it would give not give back that ability until it sees that the planemaker can build jets that meet design standards.
Boeing has a well-designed plan “for the re-work that it must perform on a large volume of new 787s in storage,” said the FAA spokesperson.
Boeing is due to report earnings on April 27, with many investors interested in seeing the details of the company’s performance after it was forced to reduce production, weighing further on the already crippled supply chain.
Boeing stock price is up 1% in pre-open Thursday.
By Senad Karaahmetovic