By Rebecca Howard
WELLINGTON, New Zealand--Air New Zealand Ltd. (AIR.NZ) Thursday
said it is confident Boeing Co.'s (BA) 787-9 will be delivered on
schedule in mid-2014.
The 787-9 is the larger version of the 787 Dreamliner, able to
carry about 40 more passengers and fly slightly farther than the
current model, which carries around 250. Air New Zealand is the
global launch customer for the aircraft.
"We are reassured and very confident that there is no risk to
production or delivery timings around the 787-9 for the middle of
the next year," Chief Executive Christopher Luxon said on a media
conference call.
Boeing has come under significant pressure after global aviation
regulators temporarily grounded the 787 Dreamliner due to potential
safety risks over the jetliner's lithium-ion batteries.
"If I was taking delivery of those aircraft in the next three to
six months, we might have some concerns, but that is not our
reality," Mr. Luxon said. However, he said, he is confident Boeing
will resolve the issue.
"The Boeing 787-9 aircraft is going to be a game-changer
aircraft for us. We remain really committed to it," he said.
Write to Rebecca Howard at rebecca.howard@wsj.com