After a 15-month hiatus, Boeing delivers first 787 Dreamliner

This August 10, after a 15-month suspension, Boeing 787 Dreamliner deliveries resumed with the transfer in Charleston (CHS) of a 787-8 with registration N880BJ to American Airlines.

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The model left the factory as completed in April 2021; since then, it had only performed a few test flights and remained in storage.

At that time, Boeing detected mismatches in the aircraft’s airframe, and many units had to return to the factory to be repaired. After the 737 MAX accidents, the FAA has required Boeing to ensure the highest level of quality in the production of the aircraft, so it has ordered the suspension of deliveries (but hadn’t halted the production) until the level of inspection and quality is improved.

«This is an exciting day for American Airlines as we take delivery of our first Boeing 787-8 since April 2021. The 787 is an important part of American’s fleet and this is the first of nine 787s we expect to take delivery of this year.» Said Robert Isom, CEO and CRO of American Airlines. The carrier currently has 47 active 787 family aircraft in its fleet with 42 additional orders.

American Airlines was one of the main affected operators: the suspension forced it to revise its long-haul schedule for this northern summer, as it expected to have thirteen 787s in its fleet. Other airlines that have delayed their schedules in the face of the issues include Qatar Airways (9), Lufthansa (5), Air Europa (7), British Airways (6), Vistara (3), Aeromexico (3), LATAM (5) and 20 other carriers, including the first Dreamliners for Hawaiian and MIAT Mongolian Airlines.

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At the end of July, Boeing was finally authorized to resume delivery of 787 Dreamliner aircraft, stating that «Boeing has made all necessary changes to ensure that the 787 Dreamliner meets certification standards» although, as previously announced. The FAA also stated that each aircraft will be inspected by the agency prior to obtaining its airworthiness certificate, thus reaffirming the decision taken in February of this year to withdraw Boeing’s authority to certify its airplanes.

In the presentation of the second quarter 2022 financial results that took place at the end of July Boeing’s Chief Financial Officer Brian West said that they have 120 787 aircraft in inventory and that they were carrying out the necessary tasks to prepare them for delivery.

Since entering service in 2011 1,006 Boeing 787s have been delivered, out of a total backlog of 1,482 aircraft ordered.