Boeing sees way to build new jets without breaking bank
chicago — Boeing Co Chief Executive Officer Dennis Muilenburg says he can add two more jetliners to an already bulging product-development effort without causing spending to soar over the next five years.
The US planemaker is deep in talks with customers over ways to fill the gap in its offerings between the narrow-body 737 and widebody 787 Dreamliner families, as Airbus Group grabs sales with the A321neo jet. Talks are focused on two potential planes: the so-called Max 10, a stretched version of the largest 737 model that could reach the market by decade’s end, and the first of a family of mid-range jets to debut about five years later.
“We could potentially do both,” Muilenburg said on Wednesday at a Morgan Stanley conference, noting that sticking with its current portfolio is also an option. “We’re looking across all of those scenarios. We don’t see any of those changing our R&D and capex profile over the five-year time period because of the timing.”
estimated to incur on 777X prior to initial delivery
in 2020 Keeping new airplane spending in check is crucial for Boeing, which is finally breaking even on the 787 Dreamliner after a decade of production and about $30 billion in deferred costs. The Chicago-based company’s research and development spending should peak this year, Muilenburg said, as Boeing starts to make the first 787-10, prepares for the 737 Max’s debut next year and finalises design for the 777X, which is targeted for a 2020 market entry.
Since he took over as chief executive last year, Muilenburg has sought to improve efficiency within Boeing’s sprawling factories and through its supply chain. Raising profit margins to the ‘midteens’ by decade’s end would give the aerospace company the means to invest in products while still handing over a cash bounty to shareholders.
But Boeing could be hardpressed to hit cash-flow targets as it counts on the 787 Dreamliner and higher narrow-body output to offset lower production rates for the 777 and the costs of developing the initial 777X, David Strauss, an analyst at UBS Group, said in a September 12 report. He estimates the 777X will burn $7 billion to $8 billion prior to initial delivery in 2020.
“We think BA cash generation will come through below expectations as 787 progress is offset by initial 777X investment, tougher pricing in the backlog, pension, customer advances and cash taxes,” Strauss wrote.
Muilenburg is confident Boeing could develop a new narrow-body quickly and without much strain on its resources if there is sufficient interest from airlines and lessors. The new model, dubbed the Max 10, would enter service by 2019 or 2020 and be a “relatively minor development program,” he said.— Bloomberg