Boeing attempts to build and deliver 787-9 in 67 days

Boeing is going to try and build and deliver a 787-9 for Scoot in 67 days.  The aircraft in questions, ZB130 (LN 308, 9V-OJD) started final assembly on March 23 and rolled out on April 22, which was 30 days later, from the main 787 assembly line 40-26 in Everett.  It took its first flight today, May 6 which is 2 weeks after rolling out and is projected to spend 23 days in pre-delivery.

ZB130 still has to be painted that should happen between May 10 and May 15th with delivery occurring on May 29th.  This would be 67 days from the time the aircraft entered final assembly to the time it would be delivered.  Of course this could be derailed if there are maintenance or build issues or if Scoot is not prepared to take delivery for some reason.

If Boeing is able to accomplish this, it would be a milestone event in the 787 program as Boeing has yet to build and deliver a 787 in under 70 days.  The current record is 76 days when Boeing built and delivered a 787 to Arke (owned by TUI Travel) earlier this year.  That aircraft, ZA324 (LN 281, PF-TFM) was built in Everett and spent 38 days in final assembly (40-24 surge line), 24 days in pre-flight testing and paint, and 14 days in pre-delivery.  Boeing would hve more confidence in increasing the production rate as well reaffirm their production methods with the aim of further reducing production costs.  If Boeing can demonstrate faster production and delivery times, it can go a long way to reducing 787 production costs which has been a drain on its earnings,

787 2014 Year End Report - Boeing finishes 2014 with 114 787 deliveries

Boeing finished 2014 with a typical December delivery rush including handing over 18 787s during December 2014.  This is a new 787 delivery record which surpasses 15 787 that was delivered in June of this year in order to make mid year delivery goals.

Here are the 787 numbers thus far:

228 - the total number of 787 that have been delivered to customers since deliveries began in 2011
114 - the total number of 787s delivered in 2014
35 - the total number of 787s delivered in the 4th quarter
18 - the total number of 787s delivered in December, 2014
118 - the total number of 787s that started final assembly in 2014
120 - the total number of 787s rolled out the 2 787 assembly halls
10 - the total number of 787-9s delivered in 2014
104 - the total number of 787-8s delivered in 2014
1.05 - the efficiency of the 787 production system in 2014 (the number should be below 1 to indicate an efficient production system)
0.97 - the efficiency of the North Charleston final assembly
1.09 - the efficiency of the Everett final assembly (includes both the main Everett and surge lines).

Boeing overall did well on the 787 program in 2014 though it does remain to be seen how they've been able to handle deferred production costs. Boeing did exceed their guidance by 4 aircraft though they were planning to deliver 120 787s in 2014.  Several had to be deferred to 2015 for various reasons including the lack of seats for completed aircraft. The fact that the production efficiency is above 1 indicates that the the production system is still not stable.  The difficulties that with traveled work and the need to re-hire temporary workers in North Charleston highlighted the ongoing production system issues that continue to plague the 787 program.  Even now aircraft that have finished final assembly are still worked on to complete assembly tasks.

Still Boeing was able to flawlessly execute on the 787-9, as well as get the production rate up to 10/month despite issues coming out of the North Charleston campus with traveled work.  Deferred production cost has increased to over $25bn as Boeing stockpiled parts to mitigate shortages and reduce traveled work.

787s were delivered to first time new operators including:

Air Canada
Air New Zealand
Arke
Avianca
Azerbaijan Airlines
Etihad Airways
Kenya Airways
Royal Air Maroc
Royal Jordanian
Thai Airways International
Virgin Atlantic
Xiamen

Plus new BBJ owners

December's delivery count was unusually large due to the delayed delivery of several 787s to Avianca (4) and Azerbaijan Airlines (2).  Earlier this year I was projecting that Boeing would deliver 120 787s.  Several were deferred due to delays with seats as well as knock on effects from previous delays.  Notably American Airlines and Scoot were to receive their first 787s in 2014 are now expected to receive them in 2015.  One early build 787 for Korean Airlines (VIP) was ready for delivery in 2014 but is now taped and sealed at the Everett Modification Center.  The fact that this aircraft is not being worked on and is sealed indicates that there is an unknown issue(s) holding up delivery to Korean Airlines.  This aircraft is to be used as a government VIP aircraft and it is possible the delay can be attributed to the finished interior that is to be installed in the aircraft including classified military gear though this is speculation on my part.

Boeing has set it self up for a 2015 rather well but issues still remain including deferred production cost and continued traveled work.  If they are able to over come these issues then we should see a high number of 787 deliveries in 2015 compared to 2014.

Stay tuned for my 787 2015 look ahead which will be out soon.

787 Full Production Table

787 Current Production Table

Delivered 787 List

787 Production and Delivery Trends

787 Monthly Delivery Tracking

Current 787 Operators

Total 787 Deliveries By Customer

2014 Projected 787 Deliveries

Boeing falls short on November 787 deliveries, off to a slow start in December

Last month Boeing delivered an anemic number of 787s despite the growing backlog of aircraft at both Everett and North Charleston.  By the end of November, Boeing had delivered 96 787s for 2014 and needs to deliver a further 14 aircraft by the end of December in order to meet their goal of 110 787 deliveries for the year. The delays have pushed aircraft that were to be delivered in November to December yet almost 1/3 of the way through December Boeing has delivered only 1 787. 

According to the latest information (which changes more often than I can keep track), Boeing is looking to deliver 18 more 787s this month in addition to the 1 that has already been delivered to Air New Zealand.  I do believe that this number will eventually be trimmed down to 14 if not fewer.  Several aircraft have not had their B-1 flight as of yet despite having delivery dates later this month.  Several might also be pushed in January due to issues with customer supplied interiors and financing among other issues.  Other sources of delays maybe driven by weather conditions (B-1 flights have weather restrictions placed on them for safety sake) as well as the upcoming Holidays.  Boeing had delivered 15 787s in June of this year so it is entirely possible for them to crank out this number and I do think they can deliver 110 for the year but they do need to pick up the pace.  There are several 787s that were scheduled for delivery in December but those aircraft have already slipped into January, among them the first 787s for American Airlines and Scoot.

Among the candidates that expect deliveries this month are:

Aeromexico - 1

Air India - 1

ANA - 1

Avianca - 4 (787s that were delayed for yet unknown reasons but suspected to be interior furnishings)

Azerbaijan Airlines - 2 (rumored to have financing issues to complete the purchase, any one have any spare nickels and dimes to lend to them?)

Etihad - 1 (rumored to be delivered in January)

Japan Airlines - 2

Korean Air - 1 (terrible teen aircraft LN 11 for VIP transport but still needs to do a B-1)

Royal Air Maroc - 1 (still need to fly a B-1)

Thai - 1

TUI Travel (Arke) - 1

United Airlines - 1 (last 787-8 for UA)

Virgin Atlantic Airways - 1 (787-9, still needs to do a B-1)


A full year end review will be written up soon after the New Year followed by a 2015 Look Ahead.

787 Full Production Table

787 Current Production Table

Delivered 787 List

787 Production and Delivery Trends

787 Monthly Delivery Tracking

Current 787 Operators

Total 787 Deliveries By Customer

2014 Projected 787 Deliveries

787-9 Flight Testing Tracker

787 Firing Order Updated

The 787 firing order has been updated.  The order for L/N 181 to L/N 200 are now listed and doesn't contain too many surprises.  This firing order should be for aircraft that will enter final assembly through April (end of April).

Here's a quick breakdown:

New operators:

Thai (leased from ILFC)
Arke (formerly Arkefly, through TUI Travel)
Royal Jordanian

Breakdown:
ANA - 1
BBJ - 1
British Airways - 2
Ethiopian - 1
Kenya Airways - 2
ILFC - 2
LAN - 2
QANTAS - 2
Qatar Airways - 1
Royal Jordanian - 1
TUI Travel - 3
United - 2

Only one 787-9 will be going through production and this aircraft is slated for United Airlines (ZB167).

Full 787 List

Current 787 Production List

Delivered 787 List

787 Monthly Delivery Tracking

787 Customer Delivery

787-9 Flight Test Hours

Current 787 Operators