Australia's Qantas Airways has cancelled orders for 15 Boeing Dreamliners and deferred orders for 15 more new planes, dealing the US-based plane maker a heavy blow amid an already depressed aviation market.
Citing the turbulent global market conditions, the Australian carrier said on Friday that it had cancelled orders for the B787s that were due to be delivered in 2014-15, and deferred for four years orders for another 15.
Qantas said the decision, made after reaching a mutual agreement with Boeing, would save the company $3bn.
Following news of the cancellation and deferral, Qantas shares rose 2.5 per cent in early trade, after diving 24 per cent so far this year.
Alan Joyce, the chief executive of Qantas, said that discussions with Boeing had commenced some months ago and the changes to the B787 orders were appropriate in the current climate.
He denied the decision had been influenced by the announcement this week of a design issue and further delay to the aircraft's first flight.
'Dramatic change'
Joyce said the "operating environment for the world's airlines has clearly changed dramatically" since Qantas announced its original B787 order in 2005.
"Delaying delivery, and reducing overall B787 capacity, is prudent, while still enabling Qantas and [budget subsidiary] Jetstar to take advantage of growth opportunities and market demands, both domestically and internationally."
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| Qantas said last month that it expects to weather the global aviation crisis [EPA] |
Last month Qantas said it expected to weather the aviation crisis - the industry's worst on record - without having to further cut capacity or jobs, or raise new capital.
It added that it retained the ability to buy up to 50 additional aircraft.
But the company has forecast a loss in the second half of its 2009 financial year, and announced in March it would shed 90 top management positions, adding to 1,500 job cuts announced last year.
Aviation analysts have warned that more Boeing customers could follow Qantas' move.
Boeing, already pummelled by the economic slowdown and Pentagon budget cuts, said earlier this week that it would delay the first test flight of the Dreamliner.
The Dreamliner is a carbon-composite plane that promises to pioneer an era of lighter, more fuel-efficient planes.
Customers with Dreamliner orders have expressed disappointment over the latest delay which was due to a structural flaw.