By Robert Wall
GENEVA--Boeing Co. (BA) may sell more of its 737 Max
single-aisle jets as private planes within the next month, said
David Longridge, president of the unit selling such aircraft.
Boeing has sold four 737 Max narrowbodies due for delivery in
airliner service in 2017 as private planes, called Boeing Business
Jets. Several proposals to sell BBJ Max planes are under
discussions with deals possible before the Paris air show, Mr.
Longridge said at the European Business Aviation Conference and
Exhibition. The Paris event kicks off in mid-June.
The Chicago-based plane maker is still selling current-model 737
aircraft as BBJs. Mr. Longridge said the business jet offshoot of
the current 737 could still be offered to customers even after
airline buyers have shifted to the 737 Max, with new engines. The
current version of the single-aisle plane will remain in production
for military buyers so Boeing may still market the plane for
private or government customers, he said.
Selling business jets can be a lucrative business for Boeing,
though volume is typically small. The company delivered 14 such
planes last year and booked 12 orders in the period. Order intake
is likely to be slightly lower this year, Mr. Longridge said.
Demand also remains strong for the company's 747-8 jumbo, the
company's largest aircraft, in the business jet market where it
typically serves as a head-of-state aircraft.
Ralph G. D'Ambrosio, chief financial officer of L-3
Communications, which equips private jets, last week warned of a
substantial drop in 747-8 modification demand.
That isn't echoed by Boeing, though. "We still see healthy
demand for the 747-8. There are still several governments that are
interested in buying that airplane," Mr. Longridge said.
Write to Robert Wall at Robert.Wall@wsj.com
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