Story ID: 788conner
Boeing To Roll Out Max by Year-end
By: Gregory Polek
Caption: Boeing CEO Ray Conner also reported that the Max continues to meet all its performance expectations.
Word Count: 316
Here at the Paris Air Show yesterday Boeing committed to rolling out the 737 Max by the end of the year, and to flying it for the first time early next year. Speaking at a “state of the industry” briefing, Boeing CEO Ray Conner also reported that the Max continues to meet all its performance expectations. Boeing expects to airplane to burn 20-percent less fuel than the current-generation 737. 
  
It was the first time Boeing has said it will roll-out the new 737 variant during 2015. Conner added that the 777X remains on schedule to reach firm configuration this year. Schedules call for the start of final assembly in 2018 and first delivery in 2020. 
  
Meanwhile, Boeing plans to increase production rates for the 787 from 10 of 12 airplanes per month in 2016 and 14 per month by the end of the decade. It expects first delivery of the 787-10 in 2018.
  
“We’ve increased airplane production by more than 60 percent over the past five years by building our products on a lean and responsive production system,” said Conner. “Our focus is on executing our production rates and getting airplanes into the hands of our customers. We remain on track to deliver between 750 and 755 airplanes, a new industry record.”
  
Separately, Connor conceded yesterday that the economic situation in Russia has become a concern given recent revelations that Aeroflot is “reviewing” its order for twenty-two 787 Dreamliners. However, said Conner, Boeing hasn’t yet felt the effects to the point where it has had to halt deliveries to its wider Russian customer base. 
  
“The situation there is very difficult,” he said. “But we’ve delivered most all of airplanes to the Russian customers over the course of the last year. We’ll just have to deal with that with Aeroflot. They’re in a little bit of a unique situation. That’s a tough market right now.”