Google – AFP, 16 November 2013
A Boeing
B787 Dreamliner takes part in a flying display at the Farnborough
International
Airshow in Hampshire, southern England on July 9, 2012
(AFP/File, Carl Court)
|
Dubai —
Boeing said Saturday it needs another six months to make its long-awaited 787
Dreamliner, which has been beset by a series of incidents, as reliable as its
bestselling 777 airliner.
Marty
Bentrott, a regional sales chief for Boeing, said the company was "making
good progress" in resolving the problems with the Dreamliner, adding the
aircraft's "reliability is improving".
"Do we
have additional work ahead of us? Yes. When do we think those problems will be
behind us and the plane will be reliable? I think it's probably another six
months or so," Bentrott said at a press conference ahead of the Dubai
Airshow, which opens on Sunday.
He
acknowledged that Qatar Airways, one of the US giant's main customers in the
Middle East, had had difficulties with the Dreamliner but said Boeing was
providing support teams.
Qatar
Airways has ordered 30 Dreamliners for its fleet, of which nine are
operational.
Bentrott
said that technical difficulties were normal after the launch of any new
aircraft.
The 787
Dreamliner has encountered several serious difficulties since entering
operation two years ago, especially with its batteries, causing the entire
fleet to be grounded for about four months earlier this year.
No comments:
Post a Comment