The Dreamliner programme was launched by Boeing in April 2004 and the first plane was to be delivered to Japanese airline All Nippon Airways in the first half of 2008. This was later rescheduled for the end of this year.
Air India has also placed orders with Boeing for the new jet and was to get the first delivery in 2008.
"The delivery date revision follows an assessment of the availability of an engine needed for the final phases of flight test this fall," Boeing said in a statement. "While Boeing works closely with Rolls-Royce to expedite engine availability, flight testing across the test fleet continues as planned," it said.
The scheduled revision will not affect the company's financial guidance, the statement added. National carrier Air India has sought USD 840 million as compensation from Boeing for delays in the delivery of Dreamliner planes.
It also asked for the return of its pre-delivery payment of USD 240 million, along with interest on it, due to the delay in Boeing's delivery schedule. The National Aviation Company of India Limited, holding firm of Air India, had in 2006 placed orders for a total of 68 aircraft, including 27 Boeing 787-800 Dreamliners.
It was to be delivered in May 2008 originally. Now, the Air India is likely to get the first aircraft delivery in second quarter of 2011. The aircraft which can seat up to 330 passengers, is first new model in more than a decade announced by the company. The plane can fly long-haul routes using up to 20 per cent less fuel.
However, Boeing had indicated last month also that the first delivery of the 787 could be pushed a few weeks into 2011, due to a series of issues. It had detected a "workmanship issue" with the horizontal stabiliser, a component in the rear of the aircraft that is designed to stabilise it in flight, the statement said.
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