Boeing faces double blow with cancelled 787 Dreamliner orders

In the last two weeks, the US commercial aircraft manufacturer Boeing has had to deal with two airlines canceling their orders of the much-hyped 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

Last week, Moscow-based S7 canceled its order for 15 787s. The Russian carrier did not specify the reason it had decided to cancel its order, but said it “retains interest in using the Dreamliner and at the moment is looking into receiving the planes under a leasing scheme at an earlier date, for which it is in negotiations with several leasing companies.”

The failed deal included 10 purchase rights and was valued at $2.4 billion at list price. The Dreamliner aircraft were supposed to have been delivered in 2014.

Joining S7 in canceling its Dreamliner aircraft order is Dubai-based LCAL. Good news for Boeing, however, is the decision by LCAL to keep five aircraft of its original order of 21.

The news must be especially worrying for Boeing as LCAL was set up in 2004 specifically to buy and lease 787’s and was likely to be the aircraft’s launch customer, IFALPA Daily News reported.

There is growing frustration among customers of the 787 Dreamliner, as the Seattle-based aircraft manufacturer has delayed the delivery of its much-anticipated aircraft five times before. The last time the company postponed the aircraft’s first flight and first delivery was last month.

At this point, Boeing does not need to worry too much about S7 and LCAL’s order cancellation and reduction, as it still has 895 orders for 787s on its order book.