Boeing 737 Max plane supply to be stopped? CEO reveals big details

Boeing's supply chain for the 737 MAX is in good shape as the U.S. planemaker aims to grow output of its strongest-selling jet to 38 a month by mid-2025, CEO Kelly Ortberg said on Thursday, as per a report.

Ortberg told analysts and investors at the Barclays Industrial Select Conference that he doesn't see any supply chain constraints right now that are going to stop the planemaker from ramping up here to the 38 a month, Reuters reported.



Boeing CEO's statement comes at a time when US President Donald Trump revealed that he was considering buying used Boeing aircraft — perhaps from an overseas seller — to use as Air Force One when he's aboard, as he fumes over the U.S. plane-maker's delays in producing two specially modified ones for presidential use, AP reported.


Speaking to reporters aboard one of the two nearly 35-year-old Boeing 747-200 aircraft in current use, Trump said, “We’re looking at alternatives, because it’s taking Boeing too long.”


Boeing has the contract to produce updated versions, based on the more modern Boeing 747-8, but delivery has been delayed while the aircraft maker has lost billions of dollars on the deal, which was negotiated by Trump during his first term in office, as per AP report.


It's not the planes, rather the heavy modification to make them suitable for the requirements of presidential travel and the top-level security clearances required for those involved, that has added to the cost and delays. Trump already dropped a requirement for the new generation of planes, which will be known as the VC-25B, to be capable of air-to-air refueling, like the pair of existing VC-25As, which were designed during the Cold War.


Other modifications include highly classified communications equipment suitable for the country's commander-in-chief, survivability enhancements for a range of contingencies, and self-contained air-stairs, allowing for their use in austere landing environments.


Delivery initially was set for 2024, but has been pushed to some time in 2027 for the first plane and in 2028 — Trump’s final year in office — for the second, according to the U.S. Air Force.

FAQs

Q1. What do we know about Boeing's delivery of Air Force One?
A1. Delivery initially was set for 2024, but has been pushed to some time in 2027 for the first plane and in 2028 — Trump’s final year in office — for the second, according to the U.S. Air Force.

Q2. Why has Boeing delayed its delivery?
A2. Boeing has the contract to produce updated versions, based on the more modern Boeing 747-8, but delivery has been delayed while the aircraft maker has lost billions of dollars on the deal, which was negotiated by Trump during his first term in office, as per AP report.