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Boeing To Boost 737
Production Rate To 42 Airplanes Per Month In 2014 By Shane Nolan |
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June 16, 2011 - Boeing announced it will increase the
production rate for its Next-Generation 737 to 42
airplanes per month. Once implemented in the first half
of 2014, the 737 program expects to build on average two
737s each workday and nearly 500 airplanes each year.
Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Jim
Albaugh said the market outlook for single-aisle
jetliners is strong and growing. "Customers are
demanding our Next-Generation 737 at an unprecedented
rate," Albaugh said. "New performance improvements and
enhanced passenger comfort features have driven home the
value equation for our customers."
Albaugh emphasized the popularity of Boeing's new
passenger comfort features, noting that since its
introduction in May 2010, the new Boeing Sky Interior is
specified on more than 80 percent of new 737 orders. |
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737
Program Vice President and General Manager Beverly Wyse said the
goal with this rate increase is to continue meeting customer
demand with an innovative airplane that provides strong
performance and value.
"We have
worked very closely with our supply chain and our world-class
manufacturing team to ensure we can increase rate in an
efficient and responsible fashion," Wyse said. "We believe that
many of the capital investments and production system changes
made for 38 airplanes per month will already position us to
build 42," Wyse said. "We are very well situated for this rate
increase."
The 737
program currently produces 31.5 airplanes per month and expects
to go to 35 per month in early 2012, 38 per month in second
quarter 2013, and then to 42 per month in the first half of
2014. The rate increase announced Tuesday is not expected to
have a material impact on 2011 financial results. Boeing's highly efficient and reliable 737 family has become the best-selling airliner in history. More than 280 customers have placed more than 8,880 orders for the single-aisle airplane ? including more than 5,750 orders of the Next-Generation 737. Boeing currently manages a backlog of more than 2,100 of the 737 family. |