Boeing Dreamliner Delivery Delayed Again for ANA

Boeing's much-vaunted 787 Dreamliner was mired in yet more delay Thursday, launch customer All Nippon Airways (ANA) said in Japan.

The airline so far has received just two Dreamliners since September, three years after the first plane was originally scheduled for delivery.

ANA had hoped it would get a third plane in December to use on one of its Tokyo-to-Beijing routes, but has been forced to reschedule after Boeing said the plane would not arrive on time due to production delays.

"It is extremely regrettable, but we have decided to change plans," ANA said in a statement. "We will do our best to ask Boeing to arrange an early reception of the aircraft."

ANA ultimately expects to receive 55 Dreamliners, which have been lauded as the future of aviation for their use of lightweight, fuel-saving materials.

The 787 made its first commercial flight on Oct. 26 after a string of technical mishaps and delays that have cost Boeing billions of dollars in lost or canceled orders and seen it give ground to fierce rival Airbus.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2011