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Boeing boosts B737 MAX output but slows B747-8 production
January 29th 2016
Boeing has scheduled the first flight of the B737 MAX 8 for today, January 29, but cautions the date may be subject to change. Powered exclusively by the CFM International LEAP-1B, the MAX 8 is designed to seat 162 passengers in a typical two-class configuration. Read More »
The B737 MAX series will go head-to-head with Airbus’ A320neo, which entered service with launch customer Lufthansa this week on the Frankfurt to Munich route.
The U.S. manufacturer this week said it will again increase the B737 production rate to 57 aircraft per month in 2019 (from 42 B737s now, 47 a month in 2017 and 52 in 2018) and will slow production of the B777 to seven aircraft per month in 2017, down from 8.3 at present. Boeing will also reduce the manufacture of the B747-8/-8F from 1.3 to 0.5 frames a month from September because of a demand drop off.
Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and CEO, Ray Conner, said the "air cargo market recovery that began in late 2013 has stalled and slowed demand for the 747-8 freighter." Boeing’s vice president marketing, Randy Tinseth, added: "the 747-8 and its future are tied to the cargo marketplace, and frankly this is a market that's been up and it's been down over the last few years. Unfortunately, in the middle of 2015 that market started to soften."
Boeing reported net income of $5.18 billion for the full-year 2015, down 5%, as significant one-time charges related to the KC-46 tanker and the B747-8 hit the bottom line.
