The head of Japan's All Nippon Airways (ANA) has voiced "great disappointment" at repeated delays by Boeing in delivering its hi-tech 787 Dreamliner, a report said on Nov. 29.
ANA, Japan's second largest airline after troubled Japan Airlines, is to be the launch customer for the Dreamliner, which features a lightweight part-carbon composite structure for greater fuel efficiency.
But the project has suffered a number of setbacks, including a fire on a test flight this month.
ANA was supposed to get the first of the 55 Dreamliners it has ordered more than two years ago but as a result of the delays has had to revise its fleet retirement plans, the Financial Times reported.
"We are pushing them to present the detailed cause of the irregularities," said ANA's chief executive Shinichiro Ito, referring to this month's fire. "We are pushing Boeing to present the schedule for the delivery as soon as possible."
Asked whether ANA regretted ever ordering the jet, Ito responded: "Never! It's a dream!
"Of course we have a great disappointment about the delay but our top priority is to have an excellent fleet."
Boeing was forced to halt test flights of the 787 this month after the fire involving an insulation blanket prompted an emergency landing.
Ito also said he was optimistic about final results for the year to March 2011 after two years of losses.
"Six billion yen (US$71.39 million) is our minimum target," he said.
ANA, Japan's second largest airline after troubled Japan Airlines, is to be the launch customer for the Dreamliner, which features a lightweight part-carbon composite structure for greater fuel efficiency.
But the project has suffered a number of setbacks, including a fire on a test flight this month.
ANA was supposed to get the first of the 55 Dreamliners it has ordered more than two years ago but as a result of the delays has had to revise its fleet retirement plans, the Financial Times reported.
"We are pushing them to present the detailed cause of the irregularities," said ANA's chief executive Shinichiro Ito, referring to this month's fire. "We are pushing Boeing to present the schedule for the delivery as soon as possible."
Asked whether ANA regretted ever ordering the jet, Ito responded: "Never! It's a dream!
"Of course we have a great disappointment about the delay but our top priority is to have an excellent fleet."
Boeing was forced to halt test flights of the 787 this month after the fire involving an insulation blanket prompted an emergency landing.
Ito also said he was optimistic about final results for the year to March 2011 after two years of losses.
"Six billion yen (US$71.39 million) is our minimum target," he said.
