Boeing Plans Further Boost to 767 Output
September 09 2015 - 4:50PM
Dow Jones News
Boeing Co. said Wednesday that it is planning to raise monthly
production of its 767 widebody jet to 2.5 in late 2017 to
accommodate a previously announced 50-plane order from FedEx
Corp.
The plane maker currently builds around 1.5 of the jets each
month and had already outlined plans to boost this to two early
next year. It will now raise output further to 2.5 in the fourth
quarter of 2017.
Boeing's Everett, Wash., assembly line has built passenger and
freighter versions of the 767 since 1981, and is gearing up to
begin regular production of a heavily modified version to serve as
a refueling tanker for the U.S. Air Force, which plans to buy as
many as 179 aircraft.
"The 767 has a very healthy backlog through the mid part of the
next decade," Brad Zaback, vice president and general manager of
the 767 program said. "We are confident the market will support a
long-term future for the 767."
Despite troubling signs for regional economic growth and
receding air cargo traffic, FedEx in July announced a deal for 50
of the freighter variants and holds options to purchase 50
more.
Mr. Zaback said in an internal company memo that he expects the
767, the company's longest-running large twin-jet program, to add
employees as its production tempo increases.
"Increasing the production rate in 2017 provides the flexibility
needed to address additional commercial orders while meeting all of
our customer requirements," said a Boeing spokesman.
Write to Jon Ostrower at jon.ostrower@wsj.com
Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
September 09, 2015 16:35 ET (20:35 GMT)
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