McDonnell Douglas delayed its MD-11 launch date.

The firm has twice delayed its program launch plans for a DC-10 variant, which is designated the MD-11. It had originally hoped to launch the aircraft at the start of this year, but “the market was not quite ready,” a spokesman said. The company is continuing to offer the aircraft for sale, and the McDonnell board is expected to approve continuation of the program until later this year, a spokesman said. The company is proposing to lengthen the DC-10 fuselage, switch to more fuel-efficient engines and extend the flight range of the aircraft, among other changes.