Boeing, one of the leading aircraft manufacturing companies, has said that the inaugural flight of its very long delayed 787 Dreamliner would take flight by the end of the year. It also hoped to deliver the very first Dreamliner for service in the last quarter of 2010. This puts the plane only some two years behind schedule.

The aerospace giant also went on to note that it would cost nearly an additional $2.5 billion to get the troubled aircraft airborne. This came after some initial test flight aircrafts would not make it to market because of the extensive alterations needed.

Jim McNerney, the Boeing chairman, said that extra time would allow the remaining work to be finished. He went on to say, “This new schedule provides us the time needed to complete the remaining work necessary to put the 787′s game-changing capability in the hands of our customers. The design details and implementation plan are nearly complete, and the team is preparing airplanes for modification and testing.”

The first maiden flight for the Dreamliner was set back for June 30. However, Boeing had to cancel the maiden flight due to a weakness that was found in the body of the aircraft. So far the Dreamliner has cost $10 billion to develop and is a big bid by Boeing to regain the crown that was taken off of its head by Airbus.

Japanese airlines has already voiced their growing disappointment with the delays of the Dreamliner saying, “We understand the need to make the best and safest aircraft possible and appreciate that delays due to engineering issues of the current nature must be solved in order to move forward and achieve this year. However, as launch customer and future operator of the 787, the length of this further delay is a source of great dismay, not to say frustration.”

Thanks to www.breakingtravelnews.com for the above quotes.