Transportation Minister Igor Levitin urged Boeing to accelerate the delivery of 787 Dreamliners to Aeroflot so the state-run carrier can put them into service before the 2014 Winter Olympics, when traffic is expected to surge.
Levitin said he pressed Boeing executives during a recent trip to the United States to accelerate deliveries, which are now scheduled for 2016. ?
“We asked them to move it to 2014,” Levitin said. “We would like the official carrier of the games to have these jets during the Olympics.” ?
Boeing is more than two years behind schedule in deploying the Dreamliner, the first airplane to be built mostly from composite-plastic materials instead of aluminum. The twin-engine jet has been slowed by parts shortages, redesigns and a new manufacturing process that relies more on component suppliers.
Dmitry Krol, a spokesman for Boeing, declined to comment on Levitin’s remarks, saying only that Aeroflot’s contract was worth about $3.6 billion and calls for 22 Dreamliners to be delivered in 2016.
Aeroflot, a member of the SkyTeam alliance, is also due to start receiving 22 aircraft from Boeing rival Airbus in 2016.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.