Aircraft
Boeing, Airbus Face Critical Months Leading into 2017
U.S. company mulls slowing 777 rates while European airframer begins frantic production pace in fourth quarter
Boeing's factory in Everett, Washington, now produces 777s at a rate of 8.3 a month. Plans call for production to slow to seven per month next year. (Photo: Boeing)
Boeing's factory in Everett, Washington, now produces 777s at a rate of 8.3 a month. Plans call for production to slow to seven per month next year. (Photo: Boeing)

Boeing and Airbus each face their own sort of challenges leading to the end of 2016, as the U.S. airframer looks to win enough ongoing 777 sales campaigns to maintain that model’s production rates and the European company scrambles to accelerate deliveries to meet its overall target of 670 and last year’s earnings tally of €4.1 billion.