All Nippon Airways (ANA) has been told not to expect delivery of Boeing's new Dreamliner until spring next year.
The Japanese airline - Boeing's launch partner for the new-generation aircraft - was due to take delivery of the 787 at the end of this year.
Rolls Royce has been unable to deliver the Trent 1000 engine needed for the final stages of flight-testing, according to Boeing.
The Dreamliner project has already been delayed more than two years after a series of setbacks suffered during the global financial meltdown.
ANA has 55 of the new aircraft on order, and has been told it will receive eight by the end of March.
An ANA spokesman said the delay was "regrettable".
A spokesman for Rolls-Royce said: "We have been informed by Boeing that the currently planned dates for Trent 1000 engine deliveries will now not support their latest flight test programme requirements.
The spokesman said Rolls Royce was working closely with Boeing, and insisted the new delay was not linked to an engine test failure at the beginning of August.