German newspaper Die Welt reported today that Boeing is to delay the delivery of its 787 Dreamliner plane a further nine months. A previous delay was announced on April 9, when the U.S. plane maker said it will flight test the plane sometime in the fourth quarter of the year, with first deliveries expected in the third quarter of next year.

The Die Welt report has immediately sparked controversy, because if true would have brought the total delay to a stunning 27 months. However, just hours after the report, Boeing denied that any further delays will affect is next-generation plane.

"There has been no change since our announcement in April," said Yvonne Leach, a spokeswoman in Seattle to AP and AFP.

Nevertheless, the 787 repeated delays are an embarrassment that could hinder Boeing in the contest with Airbus to dominate the world’s commercial air fleet. Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner is now 14 to 16 months behind schedule. Such a delay may determine some airlines to seek compensation.

The major aerospace and defense corporation, originally founded by William E. Boeing, had planned to deliver 109 jets in 2009, but stated on April 9 it will produce only 25. The delay will surely cripple the company’s 2009 revenue as the planes are paid for upon delivery. However, the Chicago-based company made an optimistic forecast for 2009 and said it expects the earnings to climb.

The 787 Dreamliner is a fuel-efficient aircraft, with two engines types, the General Electric GEnx and Rolls-Royce Trent 1000, an interchangeability feature of the engines, and it is made mostly of composite, which is a plastic material stronger that the titanium and lighter than the aluminum. It has a 200-300 seats capacity and promises to be the best-seller for commercial jets in the history of airplanes.