Boeing said new supply constraints involving engines and premium cabin seats are delaying deliveries of its 787 Dreamliner, revealing less visible bottlenecks affecting the long-haul jet program.
During the company’s first-quarter earnings call, CEO Kelly Ortberg said Boeing has completed aircraft that cannot yet be handed over to customers.
“We’ve got a fair number of 787s that are held up,” Ortberg said.
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According to the executive, some of those aircraft are waiting for certification of new premium cabin interiors, an issue that has affected airlines introducing updated business- and first-class products.
Lufthansa was among the most visible examples after delays involving certification of its new Allegris premium seats postponed the introduction of new 787s.
Ortberg also said engine supply became another challenge during the quarter.
“It’s been a tough quarter in terms of engine deliveries,” he said, without identifying whether the delays involve GE Aerospace or Rolls-Royce, the two engine suppliers for the Dreamliner family.
The 787 remains one of the few widebody aircraft programs still offered with two engine options — GE’s GEnx and Rolls-Royce’s Trent 1000 — but both manufacturers have faced supply chain pressure in recent years as demand for long-haul aircraft rebounds.
Boeing delivered 15 Dreamliners in the first quarter through March, only two more than in the same period last year.
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Despite the slower pace, demand for the aircraft remains strong. Boeing ended March with 1,109 unfilled 787 orders, making the Dreamliner one of the company’s largest sources of future widebody production.
The comments suggest that while Boeing has stabilized 787 fuselage output after previous manufacturing disruptions, deliveries are now increasingly dependent on suppliers responsible for engines and high-end cabin components.
