The launch customer is Japan''s All Nippon Airways.

The 787 Dreamliner is without doubt the most successful new jet programme ever in aviation history — if one were to just consider the volume of orders placed for the aircraft. A whopping 710 Dreamliner''s are already on order even before the aircraft has made its first flight.

John Leahy, Airbus chief operating officer (customers), was the first one to openly express his doubts about Boeing''s delivery plans (See: Airbus COO: Boeing''s 787 Dreamliner may face delays). Boeing''s setback now follows on the back of the debacle suffered by Airbus, its European rival, which was forced to push back deliveries of its A380 super jumbo by two years.

Airbus is due to make the first delivery of the A380 to launch customer Singapore Airlines coming Monday, nineteen months behind schedule.

According to Boeing, the Dreamliner is facing assembly problems owing to "continued challenges" in its supply chain.

It needs to be recognised that Boeing has initiated some very innovative programmes with the Dreamliner, pioneering material technologies and assembly techniques apart from outsourcing work to a global network of suppliers. The 787 Dreamliner is probably the most extensively ''outsourced'' aircraft ever to be produced.

"We are disappointed over the schedule changes," said Jim McNerney, Boeing chairman and chief executive. "Notwithstanding the challenges that we are experiencing in bringing forward this game-changing product, we remain confident in the design of the 787."

Boeing has also said that the delay would not be material to earnings but said that revenues in 2008 would be hit by the delay, as it expects to push delivery of 30 to 35 Dreamliners into 2009.

The first Dreamliner had rolled out from the assembly line amid much fanfare in July this year. It later emerged that the sections of the aircraft had been partly assembled with temporary fasteners (rivets and bolts), thanks to shortages.