All Nippon, Japan Airlines mulling compensation after another Dreamliner launch delay

All Nippon Airways Co (ANA), the launch customer for Boeing's 787 Dreamliner plane, and Japan Airlines Corp are examining the issue of compensations from Boeing after the manufacturer announced a second delay in the aircraft's delivery. ANA and Japan Airlines have a total of 85 Dreamliner's on order. 

All Nippon spokesman, Rob Henderson, said that the airline will examine the effect of the delay on its expansion plans before making a decision. ANA has 50 planes on order. Japan Air spokesman, Atsushi Abe, did not rule out seeking compensation either. Japan Air has ordered 35 planes. 

Boeing has now said that it won't start deliveries of the 787 until early 2009. Slowly, but surely, it is beginning to mimic the pattern of rival Airbus which too ran into production problems with its A380 super jumbo and finally delivered it two years behind schedule.
It was forced to compensate airlines for the delays.

Boeing has 817 orders for the Dreamliner on hand, valued at over $120 billion at list prices.

All Nippon was supposed to take delivery of the first plane in May and was planning to fly the new aircraft from its base in Tokyo's Haneda airport. The expansion of the airport has also been delayed by a year until 2010 because of objections by local businesses.
 
All Nippon hasn't received a delivery date for its first plane from Boeing and doesn't know what the effect will be yet, said Henderson.