Qantas cancels Dreamliner order

The Dreamliner is made from plastic composites rather than aluminium

Australian airline Qantas has cancelled an order for 15 of Boeing's Dreamliner 787 aircraft.

The cancellation came after Boeing this week delayed the launch of the Dreamliner for the fifth time.

Qantas said it revoked its $3bn (£1.8bn) order because of the worsening economic environment, not the delays.

Qantas made the order in December 2005. The "operating environment for the world's airlines has clearly changed dramatically since then," Qantas said.

The long-range, medium-sized Dreamliner is already more than two years behind schedule.

The airline's maiden flight had been due to take place on 30 June, but Boeing said it had now been delayed because of a need to reinforce a side section of the plane.

Boeing has received more than 800 orders for the Dreamliner, the planemaker's fastest selling model.

The Dreamliner is Boeing's first completely new aircraft since 1995.