It's also a very quick descent which saves time (which, i am told, is equivalent to money), and you don't need to keep the engines running anymore for the descent so you can save on fuel too. Always look on the bright side.
The Journal says the cause for delay involves a temperature-regulating part called a heat exchanger. Boeing had been getting them from a supplier in Russia, but when that country launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine and trade restrictions were put in place against Russian goods, Boeing started getting them from British and American suppliers. But they haven’t been able to make as many. The heat exchanger is one of “a few key parts” that Boeing has told staff is behind a 787 slowdown in a memo last week. Combined, the 787 and the also-delayed 737 Max make up 98% of the planemaker’s current order backlog.
The more countries that the US sanctions, the weaker the sanctions become. You can't simultaneously export all your manufacturing to exploit other countries AND go in a mass sanctioning spree.