The Boeing Co.’s CEO Jim McNerney had good things to say about the future of the company’s Everett-built 777 at a conference Thursday.
“I think we’re going to sell one heck of a lot of 777-300ERs,” McNerney said.
Boeing has announced rate hikes on the 777s, going up to 8.3 aircra
ft per month by 2013. But McNerney indicated it’s likely the company will raise rates on the 777 again.
“I personally think the 777 is going to be the unexpectedly strong story this decade,” he said.
Although Boeing hasn’t officially offered its 787-10, McNerney spoke highly of that aircraft and its place in the market, calling it “a very nice (Airbus) A330 replacement.”
Boeing is considering the future of its 777 and 737. For more on McNerney’s comments 737, see this earlier post.
On the 777, though, McNerney said the company will wait and see what Airbus does with its A350 Extra Wide Body jet.
Coincidentally, Flight just published this story in which Emirates’ president says the popularity of Boeing’s 777-300ER is the reason its 747-8 Intercontinental has so few orders.
On the 787, Boeing is about 80 percent of the way through negotiations with suppliers in regards to delays on the 787, McNerney said. But the company is only about halfway through negotiations with customers.
Boeing is about three years late on the 787. The company has continued to build its Dreamliner jets here in Everett during flight testing of the 787.
“Come to everett if you want to see what inventory looks like,” McNerney said, of the 787s parked around Everett’s Paine Field. “It’s pretty.”
Boeing is still working with one of its 787 global suppliers in regards to workmanship issues, he said. The company plans to deliver the first 787 this year.
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