Boeing boosts output - Company says production woes are over, will deliver 550 airplanes in 1998
NEW YORK (CNNfn) - The Boeing Co. said Monday it had increased production and was set to deliver 550 commercial aircraft this year.
A spokeswoman said the company now produces a new 737 every business day or 21 a month, adding the increase demonstrates that recent production problems have been solved.
Previously, the Seattle-based aircraft maker had been generating 14 of its 737s a month, and at the start of the year, it was producing as few as seven per month.
The company said it would deliver about 550 commercial aircraft this year, with third-quarter deliveries totaling 123 commercial airplanes.
In addition, Boeing has 36 commercial airliners in storage and plans to deliver most of them in the fourth quarter after customers close on their financing deals.
Some of those 36 planes had been ordered by Asian airlines, some of which delayed or canceled orders as a result of the economic meltdown in Asia, Larry McCracken, Boeing vice president of public relations said.
McCracken declined to specify how many planes fit this category, other than to say it was a minority.
Airplanes in storage include 10 737 Classics, eight Next-Generation 737s, nine 747s, one 767, three 777s and five MD-90s.
Included in the 550 commercial aircraft count for the year are four noncommercial 757-C32As for the U.S. Government.
The planes are for the 89th Military Airlift Wing, McCracken said. |
