BOEING COSTS FOR 737 MAX JUMPS; Q3 EARNINGS FALL 51%

DALLAS» Boeing signaled Wednesday that it is close to completing its fix to the 737 Max and still expects it to be approved to fly before the end of the year.

The troubled plane has been a drag on the company each day it remains grounded after two fatal crashes. Boeing reported that third-quarter earnings fell 51% to $1.17 billion. It added another $900 million in costs for the Max, and deliveries of new planes tumbled from a year ago.

Executives say the company has been giving regulators critical final documents that describe software changes and a program for training pilots to fly the plane, which has been grounded since March after two crashes killed a combined 346 people.

U.S. airlines still don’t expect to use their Max jets until early next year, however, and Boeing acknowledges that other countries might take longer than the U.S. to let the plane fly again.

Chicago-based Boeing eased concern that it might even temporarily shut down the Max assembly line near Seattle if the plane remains grounded. The company said it will raise 737 production from 42 a month to 57 a month by late next year.