The Boeing Co. isn’t likely to buy out its 787 supplier, Alenia Aeronautica, the jet maker’s chief financial officer said today.
Italy’s Alenia has been the source of workmanship issues. Boeing had to ground its 787 test fleet earlier this year as a result of flawed horizontal tails shipped by Alenia.
“The way you handle supplier problems is not to buy them,” James Bell, Boeing’s CFO, said during a Web cast this morning.
But Boeing has bought out troubled suppliers on the 787 in the past. Last year, Boeing acquired 787 partner Vought’s Dreamliner operations in South Carolina when that supplier suffered repeated troubles.
Boeing also bought out both Vought’s and Alenia’s ownership of Global Aeronautica in South Carolina.
“We will be looking at options,” Bell said. “Alenia clearly is struggling.”
Alenia has acknowledged that its first 200 shipments of 787 parts will be at very low profitability.
Still, Bell said, “I’m not interested in buying the 787 share of Alenia.”
Boeing is more than two years behind schedule with delivery of its first 787 and announced last week that the jet won’t be delivered until at least mid-February 2011.
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