Boeing says the delivery of 787 Dreamliners to Air New Zealand should not be affected by the production delays affecting other airlines next year.
Boeing announced on Thursday that the first deliveries of the carbon composite aircraft had been pushed back by at least six months to beginin late November or December next year.
Vice-president of marketing for Boeing commercial airplanes Randy Tinseth said in Auckland yesterday that there should be no impact on Air New Zealand's order.
Air New Zealand is paying $1.68 billion for eight long range 787-9 aircraft, due to be delivered at the end of 2010.
He said the production lag affected different models of the plane to those ordered by Air New Zealand.
Boeing is still aiming to deliver 109 of its 787s by the end of 2009, only three fewer than originally planned.
The delay has been blamed on problems putting together large components of the plane, aggravated by the scarcity of parts.
"We have some suppliers that are ahead of schedule, some right on schedule and some who are dragging behind a bit.
"But I want to emphasise this isn't an individual supplier problem this is a Boeing production problem and we have to iron it out," Tinseth said.
Boeing's sales team had contacted Air New Zealand to update the airline on production delays.
An airline spokesman said yesterday: "When we sit down with them over the next fortnight we will better understand their roll-out plans."
Boeing has orders for 710 Dreamliners from 50 airlines.
* Air New Zealand has dismissed speculation it was interested in buying a stake in Australian airline Virgin Blue Holdings.
"Air New Zealand has become aware of rumours to the effect that it is interested in acquiring a shareholding in Virgin Blue.
"Air New Zealand advises that there is no substance to these rumours," the airline said in a statement.
Virgin Blue - which is 62 per cent owned by Toll Holdings and quarter owned by Sir Richard Branson's Virgin group - has already announced plans for its Pacific Blue unit to set up in New Zealand next month in order to compete with Air New Zealand on domestic routes.
