Boeing lowered its delivery target for 787 Dreamliner planes. The aircraft manufacturer also said that it will temporarily lower production rates following the detection of a new defect in some of the wide-body jets.
The company said that it will deliver fewer than half of the Dreamliners it has already produced but has not yet delivered. Last month, CEO Dave Calhoun mentioned that the company would deliver the “lion’s share” of the 100 Dreamliners in its inventory this year.
On Monday, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said that the latest issue detected was near the nose of certain 787 Dreamliners that Boeing has produced but not delivered.
Boeing suspended deliveries of the wide-body planes in May for the second time in less than a year as the FAA reviewed the company’s methodology for assessing the aircraft.
The latest delivery delays could potentially exacerbate financial strain for Boeing. Sales of 787 Dreamliners and wide-body aircraft in general have been hurt due to weak demand in long-haul international travel amid the COVID-19 pandemic.