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Boeing, the world's second-largest airplane manufacturer, will delay the first test flight of the new 787 Dreamliner beyond the fourth quarter, reportedly because of the just-ended machinists strike.

 

No new timeframe for the flight has been established yet, Chicago-based Boeing said.

 

The 787's first delivery to customers has already been delayed three times and was running 15 months late, before an eight-week-long machinists' strike that ended November 2nd. The earlier delays were due to parts shortages and problems with the new production process.

 

The Dreamliner probably won't fly for the first time until February or March, which may push deliveries into the second quarter of 2010.

 

The Dreamliner's first customer, Japan's All Nippon Airways, said in September that Boeing had told it before the strike to expect the first plane next August.

 

The 57-day strike by machinists shut down the plane maker's factories, costing Boeing about $100 million in lost revenue each day.

 

Boeing gained 77 cents to $53.62 at 4 p.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. The stock has dropped 39 percent this year.

 

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