Boeing Revises 737 Production Forecast
In a recent update from WASHINGTON, Dec 7 (Reuters) – Boeing has conveyed to its suppliers a revised timeline for increasing the production of its flagship 737 narrowbody jetliner. The adjustment suggests a slower pace than initially planned, with a shift of approximately two months, as informed by two individuals familiar with the developments.
The American aerospace manufacturer now aims to achieve a production rate of 42 units of the 737 model per month by February 2024. This update was part of a new master schedule shared with Boeing’s suppliers over the recent week, as per the sources.
Market analysts had previously speculated that Boeing might revise its production targets, which originally sought to reach a monthly output of 42 jets by the end of 2023. This speculation arose following a disruption in the ramp-up efforts this autumn, attributed to a supplier error.
Furthermore, the updated schedule also indicates delayed milestones for future production increases. Specifically, Boeing’s objective to escalate the production to 47.2 jets per month has been rescheduled from June to August 2024. Similarly, the ambition to elevate the 737 production to 52.5 jets per month has been postponed from December 2024 to February 2025.
Boeing’s aspiration to return to its pre-pandemic production rate of 57.7 aircraft per month is now projected for October 2025, marking a three-month delay from the initial goal of July 2025.
Following the announcement of the revised schedule, Boeing’s shares experienced a 1.3% decline in midday trading on Thursday, underscoring the market’s reaction to the news.