Boeing Will Boost Its Production Again

The Boeing Co. plans to increase production of all planes by 10 percent, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday.

The newspaper cited Boeing planning documents and other sources as indicating the world’s largest airplane manufacturer has decided to boost production by at least 10 percent overall.

That includes increasing 737 production to 24 a month or more in the next two years, up from 21 a month planned for the end of 1997; and increasing 747 jumbo jet production to five planes a month from four, The Journal said.

A Boeing spokeswoman refused to confirm the report.

“We make those announcements to our employees and the world at the same time. As of today, there is no such announcement,” spokeswoman Barbara Murphy said.

She noted the company already has said it will be reaching an all-time high production rate of 40 planes per month in the fall.

In the current quarter, Boeing is going up to 29 airplanes a month, Murphy said.

Boeing has previously said it’s increasing production of its 300-seat 777 to seven planes a month. The Journal said Boeing is contemplating producing as many as 31 737s by the year 2000.

Murphy said Boeing continually assesses production capability, market demand and other factors. “Most of the scenarios we’re looking at are maintaining high levels or increasing them,” she said.

Boeing executive Ronald Woodard said producing 737s at a rate of 31 a month would be a production maximum and is “a long, long way off.”