Northwest, Japan Air, unhappy with Boeing 787 delay

NEW YORK, April 9 (Reuters) - Northwest Airlines Corp and Japan Airlines Corp, two of the more than 50 airlines and leasing companies waiting for Boeing Co's new 787 Dreamliner, expressed disappointment on Wednesday at the latest delay for the plane, which is now running 15 months behind schedule.

The U.S. plane maker announced the third major delay for the program earlier on Wednesday, promising first deliveries in the third quarter of next year, more than a year after the original target of May this year.

"We are disappointed by the latest delays, but we still believe the 787-8 will be a game-changing airplane for our fleet," said Tammy Lee, a spokeswoman for Northwest Airlines NWA.N, which has 18 of the planes on order.

The fifth largest U.S. airline expects to get an updated delivery schedule from Boeing (BA.N) in the next couple of weeks, Lee said, adding that Northwest would initially use Boeing's older and larger 747-400 jumbos for international flights where it had planned to introduce its 787s.

Japan Airlines (9205.T), one of the earliest and biggest customers for the 787, with 35 on order, said the delay would cost the airline more in extra fuel.

"The 787 is an extremely fuel-efficient aircraft," said Japan Airlines' chief executive Haruka Nishimatsu, on the sidelines of a press conference in Los Angeles. "A delay will impact us significantly."

He said the airline was waiting for official word from Boeing, but was hopeful that the plane maker would be able to supply the 787s as early as possible.

Japan Airlines is one of only two customers buying the shorter-range 787-3 variant of the 787, along with national rival All Nippon Airways Co (9202.T).

Boeing indefinitely delayed deliveries of the 787-3 variant on Wednesday, saying it would focus on the standard 787-8 and then the larger, stretched 787-9 variant. (Additional reporting by Deena Beasley and Kyle Peterson) (Reporting by Bill Rigby; editing by Carol Bishopric)