Boeing announced delay for 747-8; first deliveries planned in mid-2011

Boeing pushes 1st 747-8 delivery into mid-2011

NEW YORK — Boeing announced another delay for its 747-8 Thursday, the latest version of the 40-year-old jumbo jet that is being lengthened and updated.

Boeing now says the aircraft will be delivered in mid-2011.

The Chicago company recently warned that deliveries would likely slip into early next year. The aircraft has been plagued by production problems and has already been delayed for more than a year. Delays could eventually cost Boeing because of penalties included in contacts with customers.

The most recent delay was due to a number of disruptions, including a low-frequency vibration in certain flight conditions and an underperforming part. Neither issue requires structural changes to the airplane.

The schedule change, however, is not expected to have a material impact on Boeing’s financial results this year. The announcement also gave investors more certainty about when the aircraft would be delivered, and shares of Boeing Co. rose $1.61, or 2.4 percent, to $67.58.

“We understand the issues encountered in flight test and are working through the solutions,” said Pat Shanahan, vice president and general manager of Airplane Programs at Boeing’s Commercial Airplanes unit. “We understand and regret any impact this schedule change may have on their plans to begin service with the airplane.”

The new version is the fourth-generation of the 747.

(This version corrects plane number in last sentence)