Boeing has announced that its long-delayed 787 Dreamliner aircraft has passed final structural tests and is almost ready for its first flight.

The company said in June that a side body section of the plane’s structure needed reinforcing. It is now satisfied that the modifications are a success. There has been a series of delays in the 787’s development, which is running almost two years behind schedule. Boeing has said it hopes to deliver the first plane by the end of 2010. “I am happy to report that the programme has validated the airplane structure for the 787 Dreamliner,” said Scott Fletcher at Boeing.

“We are very pleased with the results of this final functional testing. With the successful completion of static testing and this functional testing, our focus now moves to the first flight.”