Aircraft
Boeing To Raise 767 Rate Amid Firming Freighter Demand
Production to increase from 2.5 to three per month starting in 2020
A FedEx Boeing 767 Freighter taxis at Everett, Washington's Paine Field. (Photo: Flickr: Creative Commons (BY-SA) by airlines470)
A FedEx Boeing 767 Freighter taxis at Everett, Washington's Paine Field. (Photo: Flickr: Creative Commons (BY-SA) by airlines470)

Boeing signaled continuing optimism about the future of the 767 line with Wednesday’s announcement that it would increase production rates of the widebody model from 2.5 to three airplanes per month starting in 2020. The decision to build another six airplanes per year comes amid strengthening demand for cargo capacity, reflected in a healthy backlog of some sixty 767-300Fs and supported by expected first delivery of another thirty-eight 767-based KC-46 refueling tankers to the U.S. Air Force by the end of this year. The latest rate hike announcement marks the third move to increase production since early 2016, when the pace of deliveries rose from 1.5 to two per month largely on the strength of a 2015 order for 50 airplanes and reservation of options of another 50 from FedEx.