In April of this year, Boeing looked to be in the doldrums. After weeks of intense speculation, the US aircraft maker admitted it was delaying the production of its 787 Dreamliner for the third time. First deliveries of the aircraft would not begin until mid-2009, Boeing said – 14 months behind schedule.
Another delay was humiliating enough, but it came as Boeing was still nursing its bruises from losing a $35bn contract to supply the US Air Force with aerial-refuelling tankers. The Pentagon plumped for a rival bid from EADS, the European defence company, and Northrop Grumman, its US partner.
