US aircraft maker Boeing has said that it will start deliveries of the 787 Dreamliner in the fourth quarter of 2009, starting with its Chinese customers.

The announcement comes after the aircraft maker pushed back target delivery dates thrice by more than a year behind its original schedule. Regretting the impact of the delays on its customers, Boeing sought to offer interim aircraft before delivery, said W James McNerney, president of The Boeing Company.

Five Chinese airlines - Air China, China Eastern, China Southern, Hainan Airlines and Shanghai Airlines – have ordered a total of 60 Boeing 787 Dreamliners in 2005.

Boeing has also announced that its 787 Dreamliner would make its first flight during the fourth quarter of 2008, repeating the revised schedule for the new airplane's launch announced in April.

The Dreamliner is the counter-strategy in modern aviation to Airbus' A380, betting on the other end of the spectrum. While the Airbus A380 intends to fly more people and cargo on its double passenger decks and humungous belly-hold, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aims at flying a payload of 330 passengers and their cargo, in a more fuel-efficient way than any other aircraft.

The first B787 rolled off the line last year. The B787 had smashed early sales records for Boeing, and is seen as ky to the company's financial future, as is the A380 for Airbus.

McNerney said Boeing will negotiate with its Chinese customers about penalty payments, though the Chinese airlines did not comment. Globally, over 50 airlines and leasing companies have placed ordered for the 787 Dreamliner.

In early April 2008, Boeing announced a third major delay on the new plane on account of wiring problems, pushing the delivery date of the first aircraft to the third quarter of 2009. President of Boeing Commercial Aviation Scott Carson was quoted by the US media as saying that the delays were caused by continuing problems with a widespread network of international suppliers.

After the announcement of the delay in the delivery of the Dreamliner, China established a domestic aviation company with a registered capital of 19 billion yuan ($2.7 billion) that will manufacture large passenger aircraft, as a move to reduce dependence on Boeing and Airbus. Commenting on this move, McNerney said he believed the project would succeed, given China's excellent manufacturing capabilities, huge market potential and good leadership.

According to McNerney, Boeing estimates that China will need another 3,400 aircraft over the next 20 years.

However, Russian carrier Aeroflot said last week that it could have to wait for two years past the due date for its first orders the 787 Dreamliner. Aeroflot CEO Valery Okulov was quoted by news agency Interfax as saying, "We received formal notice about one month back that (Boeing) is about 28 months off its programme.''

Aeroflot, which has signed up for 22 Dreamliners at an estimated price tag of $3 billion, would not receive its first B787 until January 2014, according to the new time schedule. The same is widely believed to be true for Russia's second-largest carrier S7 Airlines, which has ordered 15 B787s, and has pending options for an additional 10. Russian airlines are bleeding revenues on account of ageing fleets, and like the Chinese, do not have a recourse in the form of a strong domestic civil aviation industry.