It’s no surprise to anyone that Boeing has had a bad couple of years lately. The 737 MAX crisis and KC-46 problems were compounded last year by a series of process and parts defects that stalled deliveries of its flagship widebody (until the 777X enters active service): the 787 Dreamliner.
The problems that brought the aircraft’s production and deliveries to a standstill implied a major operational and financial risk. But now, those problems seem to be gone and the chances of putting the difficulties behind them are remarkably close.
According to a Reuters report, Boeing has indicated to airlines and suppliers that deliveries of the 787 could restart in the second half of this year, which will allow it to reactivate supply chains and receive fresh funds from customers who have aircraft to take delivery.
This is not the first date set by the manufacturer for the resumption of deliveries: some time ago it had indicated that April was the month, and then moved that date to May of this year. Until a while ago, it preferred to stop predicting the return, just when the FAA said that the aircraft would be authorized again when it was satisfied with the results of the inspections.
The agency revoked Boeing’s self-certification permit in February of this year, because of the model’s problems and the inevitable loss of confidence in the certification process, and in the areas of that process that were delegated to the manufacturer.
Regaining deliveries of the 787 would bring relief to customers and suppliers after two terrible years for the industry. The recovery of the long-haul airline market – a segment where Dreamliners shine – has been one of the slowest, due to interstate travel restrictions because of the pandemic.
Now, with vaccination widespread -except in Africa- and the lifting of restrictions and tests, inter-oceanic traffic is expected to see exponential growth compared to 2020 and 2021. An ideal time for the 787, fabulous as an aircraft but painful as a program, to find some peace.
