Boeing Co. pushed back the 787 Dreamliner's entry into service until the third quarter, matching some analysts' predictions for the latest delay on a jet that's now running more than three years behind schedule.
The timetable announced today for the seventh postponement reflects the fallout from the Nov. 9 electrical fire on one of the test planes that forced an emergency landing. Boeing suspended Dreamliner flights for six weeks to investigate the incident and redesign some of the jet's power system.
Boeing's latest target had been for a first-quarter delivery as it struggled with new materials, parts shortages, redesign work and a greater reliance on suppliers. The blaze highlighted software flaws, and most investors expected another four- to six-month setback, said analysts such as Peter Arment of Gleacher & Co. Securities in Greenwich, Connecticut.
