Boeing has announced a plan to further increase 737 production to 52 aircraft per month, or 624 aircraft per year, in 2018.
The latest capacity boost adds to existing plans to raise production from 42 currently to 47 per month in 2017, as Boeing introduces the 737 Max in the third quarter of that year.
“Our thorough analysis tells us the single-aisle market continues to expand and is the fastest growing, most dynamic segment of the market,” says Boeing marketing vice-president Randy Tinseth, in a news release.
Boeing has more than 4,000 orders for the 737NG and the 737 Max in the backlog.
The 737NG is expected to remain in production through the second quarter of 2019, with the last delivery to Ryanair.
Beginning in mid-2015, the 737NG will be produced side-by-side with the 737 Max on three assembly lines in Renton, Washington.
The third line is opening next year to support assembly of the 737 Max flight test fleet.
As it reaches full speed, the third line increases the potential capacity of the 737 production system to build up to 63 aircraft per month. Boeing also has raised capacity on the 737 wing assembly line in Renton to support a potential capacity of 63 aircraft per month, as well.
Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita, Kansas, builds 70% of the 737 structure, including the fuselage and the wing pylons. The General Electric/Snecma joint venture CFM International is the exclusive engine supplier, with the CFM56-7B and the Leap-1B for the 737 Max.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
