By Dan Catchpole and Shivansh Tiwary
SEATTLE, Sept 16 (Reuters) – Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg said on Wednesday that it is taking “longer than expected” to stabilize the 737 MAX production rate at 47 jets a month.
Boeing’s share price dropped about 2.5% immediately after his comments. The price was down 4.5% for the day.
After stabilizing at that rate, the U.S. planemaker will look to increase production to 52 jets a month, he said at a conference.
Ortberg said that the largest variant of 737 MAX, the 737-10, will be certified “very soon.” Certification of the 737-10 is several years behind schedule.
He downplayed expectations for a large jetliner order from China next week when Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C.
(Reporting by Dan Catchpole in Seattle, Editing by Chris Reese and David Gregorio)
