Boeing considers cutting titanium to drop 787 cost

Published 3:57 pm Friday, July 24, 2015

Boeing is considering cutting the amount of high-priced titanium on its 787 Dreamliner in its effort to reduce losses on the program, reports Reuters’ Alwyn Scott.

The lightweight alloy is used much more on the 787 than on other Boeing commercial jetliners. It accounts for 15 percent of an empty 787’s weight.

Industry sources tell Reuters that titanium makes up about $17 million of the plane’s $260 million production cost.

Dan Catchpole: 425-339-3454; dcatchpole@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @dcatchpole.