According to some estimates, the 57-day strike by machinists at Boeing might have resulted in ten-week delay of the delivery schedules. This is equivalent to around 90 "lost" planes with an average list price of more than $100m. Another issue that is going to further exacerbate the situation is the mistake by Boeing engineers whereby the fasteners used to attach titanium structures, such as the floor grid, to the composite "barrel" of the fuselage were wrongly located. Approximately, 8000 fasteners will have to be replaced on each of the first dozen 787s before they can be completed. Overall, the production of 787 is now delayed by two years. A spillover of the problem to other programs is also visible at Boeing. Due to the shortage of engineering resources, the deliveries of 747-8, a stretched 747 with an advanced new wing is expected to get delayed by nine months.
Airbus, on the other hand, is witnessing rave reviews for its A380 super-jumbo from both airlines and passengers, although the super-jumbo was also delayed by about two years. Airbus has also moved to "wave 2" production in which the wiring harnesses that triggered the crisis are fitted automatically, instead of laboriously by hand. EADS, the parent company of Airbus, pleasantly surprised investors with third quarter pre-tax earnings of 860m euros ($1.3 billion), having made a loss of 711m euros a year ago. This result is partly due to the "Power8" restructuring plan and partly due to growing strength of dollar against the euro.
Interesting while Airbus has not pinched any orders from Boeing, the over-stretched suppliers who work for both Airbus and Boeing are able to switch deliveries to Airbus, resulting in smooth production lines for Airbus.
Source: "Commercial aviation: Swings and roundabouts," The Economist, November 29th, 2008: 67-68.