The Japanese carrier known as JAL, which has ordered 35 of Boeing's advanced carbon composite aircraft, said it is now in talks with the aircraft builder for possible delivery in March.
"Negotiations are still ongoing" with Boeing, JAL spokeswoman Sze Hunn Yap said. JAL had expected four 787s by the end of March, but "with this development we are unsure."
The world's second-largest commercial plane-maker insists it can fix what it described as "incorrect shimming" in support structures in the aft fuselage of some planes and meet its goal to make 10 Dreamliners per month by the end of next year.
Shims are used to close tiny gaps in joints along the fuselage.
Some analysts, however, say the target was unrealistic to begin with and a new glitch will slow production more.
"We don't know if this will impact production," EarlyBirdCapital Managing Director Alex Hamilton said.
"But if you have to go back and correct something and possibly change production going forward, it seems to have a good chance, in our opinion."
Hamilton, whose company does not own Boeing shares, is among many experts who doubted Boeing's ability to hit its 787 production target.
The company makes 2.5 Dreamliners per month. It expects to boost monthly output to 3.5 in the second quarter, and five by the end of 2012.
Shares of Boeing were down 1.3 percent at $74.45 on the New York Stock Exchange.
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Much of that output is destined for Japan, where Boeing dominates its European rival Airbus with around a 90 percent market share.
In addition to the 35 jetliners destined for JAL, rival All Nippon Airways has ordered 55 787s and expects a further 20 to join its fleet by the end of March next year. The five aircraft now in service by ANA are operating as normal, a spokesman said.
ANA also said it was in talks with Boeing regarding future deliveries following the fuselage problem.
"We don't see any big impact, but it might push things back two or three months," spokesman Ryosei Nomura said.
Boeing's Dreamliner is the world's first commercial airplane made largely of lightweight carbon composites and entered service last year with ANA.
Boeing has taken 870 orders for the plane, which boasts greater fuel efficiency over rivals, but has been plagued by development and production delays, including a shortage of nuts and bolts in 2007, a 58-day labor strike in 2008 and a fire on a 787 test flight in 2010.
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