And UCH is suing! If Boeing spent less time on trying to get a factory in a non-union ("right to work") state and more time building the plane the old-fashioned way, by American unionized workers, this plane might have 3 years of flying history already.

United Seeking Damages For Delayed 787s | AVIATION WEEK

United Continental Holdings for the first time confirms it is seeking damages from Boeing for 787 delivery delays.

The operator has 50 firm orders for the 787, a legacy of the Continental Airlines-United Airlines merger in 2010. The first batch of aircraft are 787-8s from Continental’s order, which originally had expected to add its first 787 in March 2009 before Boeing initiated a series of program delays.

The latest delay hit United in October, when sources confirmed to Aviation Week that Boeing was having issues completing 787s rolling off the production line. That problem forced United to revise its 2012 delivery expectation down from six 787s throughout the year to just five, all to be delivered in the second half of the year.

Now United, in its 2011 10-K report filed late Wednesday with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, reaffirms its 2012 delivery schedule of 19 Boeing 737-900ERs and five 787s. But for the first time the airline also says it is seeking damages for the delays.