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Blow to Boeing from Qantas cancellation
26.06.09
Boeing's new Dreamliner aeroplane project suffered another massive blow today as Qantas cancelled and deferred orders for 30 new planes.
The decision comes just days after the US plane-maker announced a fifth delay in the launch of the fuel efficient Dreamliner.
Although Qantas denied its decision was linked to the delay blaming the economic environment instead, analysts said there was a high risk of further big cancellations from other airlines. Fortis analyst Bruce Low said: "The delays give the airlines an opportunity to pull out or defer."
Qantas cancelled orders for 15 Dreamliners due in 2014-15 and deferred an order for another 15 for four years. It said the move would save it $3billion (£1.8 billion).
While facing a rapidly growing crisis on the Dreamliner, Boeing is also suffering from sweeping cutbacks in US defence spending for military aircraft.
