Strike at Boeing delays 787 debut

Boeing has raised doubts that the first flight of its 787 Dreamliner will take place as planned this year because of a machinists' strike.

"If the strike is going on, we can't try the 787 at the end of the year like we planned. We need the full team on board," spokesman Tim Healy said.

The launch date of the plane has already been delayed. First deliveries were originally planned for the first half of this year but were pushed back to the third quarter of 2009.

Success for the 787 is vital for Boeing in response to arch-rival Airbus's giant A380 aircraft, already in service around the world.

Japan's All Nippon Airways, the launch customer for the Dreamliner, said last week it expects to receive its first delivery of the airplane next August, 15 months late.

Healy refused to discuss the possibility of more delays to delivery, saying this would be reassessed when the strike ended.

The strike has forced Boeing to halt production and could be costing it more than $100 million (£56.3 million) a day.