Aircraft
Boeing ‘Confident’ in Smooth 777X Transition
Boeing sees plenty of opportunity to fill the remaining 777 delivery slots for 777-300ERs by the time it starts delivering the 777-8X in 2021.
Boeing builds 8.3 of its current line of 777 widebodies per month. (Photo: Boeing)
Boeing builds 8.3 of its current line of 777 widebodies per month. (Photo: Boeing)

Boeing CEO Jim McNerney seized the chance to impress upon securities analysts on Wednesday his confidence in the company’s ability to execute a smooth transition between production of the current 777 line and the 777X around the turn of the decade. Now delivering 8.3 of its flagship widebodies a month, Boeing expects some “feathering” of production once it approaches the point at which it fully integrates the 777X, said McNerney. Speaking during his company’s first-quarter earnings conference call, he also conceded the potential for some “pricing pressure” resulting from the introduction of the Airbus A350. Nevertheless, he stressed that the existence of a strong “pipeline” of what he called some of the biggest and most loyal customers in the Boeing stable will ensure that the manufacturer’s plan for the 777 will proceed with little or no interruption in the flow of deliveries.