Not mentioned in the article is how much longer this will tie up Airbus’s launch of the mythical A350XWB. It was previously slated to be intro’d in 2012-13. Since this is a major redesign it will probably add 1.5 to 2 years to the intro. By that time Boeing will be about to release the composite 737 and will be a couple of years from a composite 777. Airbus is so screwed. The toulouse goose is cooked.
I hope by then Boeing has some more imaginative concepts. Not that I don’t like the 737 or the 777, but how about a couple of blended wing designs?
According to the article EIS is pushed back until at least 2014.
At the rate things are going Boeing may have to set up a second production line for the 787 given that Airbus will be excessively late with the A350XWB....
I am only taking a guess, but, we can see Boeing launching the composite 737 replacement 12-18 months after the 787 enters service... or some were late 2008/ early 2009.