IMAGE SOURCE: Medill Northwestern

BY MIKKEL NOEL LANZKY, ADAM SMITH, AND LUKAS UDSTUEN

You're watching multisource global video news analysis from Newsy.

Monday, Boeing finally delivered the first of its 787 ‘Dreamliner’ planes after multiple delays and running significantly over budget.
Japanese airline All Nippon is the first carrier to sport the new craft and hopes to have the plane in the air by November.

The much anticipated 787 sports some nifty new technology, such as electric window dimmers in place of shades and a more comfortable cabin pressure. And, as CNN tells us, it’s also more fuel efficient.

“It’s the first commercial aircraft constructed largely of composite materials, which does cut down on the jet’s weight and improves its fuel economy.”

But the costs to develop the Dreamliner have soared. While demand for the craft is certainly high — production is getting more difficult. Industry analysts who spoke with the Seattle Times doubt Boeing will be able to reach its production goal, meaning profitability could be a ways off.

“A conservative estimate [...] puts Boeing's total investment on the program so far at more than $32 billion. That massive sum, half spent on development costs and half on manufacturing the jets already built, means profitability for the plane won't come before well into the 2020s — if ever.”

Part of the reason Boeing is behind the profitability curve could be due to the unit price of the plane being $81 million cheaper than its main competitor, the Airbus A350. Britain’s Channel 4 reports:

“Some analysts suggest that in its effort to secure a pricing advantage, Boeing may in fact have sold off its aircraft too generously.”

Citigroup analyst Jason Gursky explains on CNBC, while the 787 is turning heads around the world, Boeing should not neglect the current mainstay of its revenue -- the 737.

“I think the 737 is the most important aircraft for Boeing at this point in the success that it has on re-engining that plane. As you recall, they made a decision to go with the 737 Max in order to compete against Airbus for the second half of this decade.”

Analysts may see trouble down the road for Boeing, but the market is a bit more optimistic. Bloomberg reports that Boeing’s stock rose to its highest point in six weeks as a result of the delivery, while main competitor Airbus’s parent company EADS saw its stock fall 1.6 percent.

Transcript by Newsy.