Third delay on Boeing's 787 programme likely – 747-8F and -8I programmes on track however

With Boeing due to deliver an update on the 787 Dreamliner programme today, it is widely expected that the aircraft manufacturer will announce another delay. According to The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, which has previously forecast delays correctly, Boeing will very likely announce another delay of six months, pushing delivery dates back to the end of 2009, instead of the beginning as promised earlier.

Originally, Boeing was to fly the aircraft in September 2007 and make the first delivery to launch customer ANA this May. Boeing admitted last month that it had "found the need for some improvements," specifically in the centre wing box.

If Boeing does announce a delay, then it shall be the third major delay for the prestigious programme, which has so far garnered more orders than any other pre-production aircraft in aviation history.

However, Boeing officials are at pains to emphasise that the 747-8 Freighter and 747-8 Intercontinental passenger programmes will not be affected. The 747-8F and 747-8I are slated to enter service in late 2009 and late 2010 respectively.

Even though these next-generation versions of the 747 borrow technology from the 787, they are being assembled using a "more traditional approach," according to Boeing officials. They have expressed confidence that the 747-8F and 747-8I will be delivered to launch customers Cargolux and Lufthansa on time.

So far, 78 of 104 747-8s sold are freighters, while Lufthansa is the sole commercial customer for the 747-8I. But Boeing is confident about the jet's prospects and feels it is a good fit for operators on the Pacific route as well as those for Middle East carriers launching services to Latin America.