The Seattle Times reports a big jump in 787 production, with word out that Boeing may double the production rate of the new aircraft. This could also mean an entire new production line opening in Everett, Washington, historical home and factory of the Boeing Company.
In an interview Thursday in Washington, D.C., Pier Francesco Guarguaglini, chief executive officer of Italy’s Finmeccanica, said Boeing in January asked Italian partner Alenia, a unit of Finmeccanica, to increase its monthly output of fuselages from seven to 10, with a potential rate later of 14…Boeing will decide by summer how much to increase 787 production, she said.
…Michael Bair, Boeing 787 program manager, said in December that the company may boost annual output of the plane and that the company will deliver a total of 112 twin-engine 787s in 2008 and 2009, up from an earlier plan of 96.
And he said Boeing was reviewing whether to increase output beyond original targets, starting in 2010.
Based on the $140 million average list price for the plane, doubling 787 production could mean an extra $12 billion in annual revenue for Boeing — although discounts of at least 30 percent from list prices are typically expected.
