Exclusive: ANA to take most of China’s early Dreamliners, first six test 787s unallocated

INSIDE:

• ANA set to take delivery of 11 787s in first three months
• Chinese Airlines abandon early delivery slots
• First six flight test aircraft go unallocated to airline customers

As its first flight nears, Boeing has significantly reshuffled the early recipients of the 787, with launch customer All Nippon Airways now set to take delivery of an overwhelming portion of aircraft once slated for Chinese carriers.

According to documents obtained by FlightBlogger detailing information on the first 30 787s, ANA was set to take delivery of three Dreamliners in the first three months of production based on an anticipated August 2009 entry into service. The new schedule has 11 aircraft being handed over to the Japanese carrier during the same three-month production period beginning in February 2010.

The change in the delivery schedule, which will see the first 10 production 787s go to the Japanese carrier, provides a significant boost in capacity for ANA’s fleet and will enable Boeing to fully make up ground lost over the delays of the previous two years. ANA initially expected to receive about six 787s per year. Royal Air Maroc is taking the 11th production aircraft, with ANA taking number 12.

Both Boeing and ANA declined specific comment, citing a policy of not disclosing or discussing individual aircraft delivery schedules.

Though, Drew Magill, director of marketing for Boeing Commercial Airplanes speaking generally about the Boeing delivery schedule in March noted that the poor economic environment had created a “dynamic” market whereby some customers are seeking to move up delivery of aircraft on order, while others are looking to move deliveries back.

Boeing did add that, “where possible, we are making adjustments that meet our customers’ fleet needs while allowing us to successfully manage our production plan.”