The company left intact its projection for 2009 earnings to come in at $4.70 to $5 a share but said that could change based on an updated analysis of the 787's costs.

Many airlines have planned their business models around the 787, which promises fuel-efficiency and maintenance-cost savings. The lack of a firm delivery timetable has thrown off their ability to plan everything from future routes to when they retire aging aircraft.

For the second quarter, Boeing reported net income of $998 million, or $1.41 a share, up 17 percent from $852 million, or $1.16 a share, a year earlier.

That beat analysts' expectations of $1.21 a share. The prior-year results included 22 cents a share in charges. Revenue was up 1.1 percent to $17.15 billion. Revenue at the company's Integrated Defence Systems Unit rose 9 percent to $8.7 billion.