Boeing Dreamliner to fly 'sooner rather than later', says chief Jim McNerney McNerney said the grounding has been a "frustrating experience," but he had high confidence that the proposed fix for the battery system will work. Boeing is now running test flights to prove the safety of the system, which includes a steel box to prevent fire and contain explosion. McNerney said he expected the plane to be in service "sooner rather than later," though he was not more specific. Shares of Boeing fell 0.5pc to $85.76 in morning trading. The stock is up 16pc since the plane was grounded, most of which came over the last month as the 787 moved closer to flying again. Meanwhile, speaking in the sidelines of the conference, the president of Boeing's biggest 787 customer said he expects approving and installing a fix for the battery will "go quickly." "I think it is going to go quickly now," said Fred Cromer, president of International Lease Finance Corporation, which has ordered 74 Boeing 787s. The FAA is interested in getting the plane back in the air as soon as possible. Boeing and the FAA have "a very good partnership," he said, and are working to make sure the fix "is a solution that all sides agree is the right thing to do." AIG unit ILFC is due to receive its first five 787s this year. Cromer said there was no formal word from Boeing about when the first of the jets would be delivered, but that the schedule had shifted to summer from spring. The first jet is leased to Norwegian Air Shuttle, he said. McNerney said recent corporate changes at Airbus parent EADS would make the European competitor a "stronger company." Airbus can figure out for themselves what they want to be, but I think the model does move a little closer towards - I think the word [EADS chief executive] Tom [Enders] uses is - a normal company. I know that has a special meaning in Germany, but I think that will create a stronger competitor, which I think is good for the industry. EADS shareholders on Wednesday approved sweeping changes in control that the company says will prevent interference, despite coinciding with a rise in European state shareholdings triggered by Germany's decision to buy a stake from carmaker Daimler.