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| Boeing 747-8 aircraft being loaded with cargo. Photo: Boeing |
[Avionics Today 06-25-2015] Boeing has confirmed that, beginning March 2016, the manufacturer will reduce the 747-8 production rate from 1.3 airplanes per month to one per month.
“The market drives our production rate and we adjust accordingly to keep our business running smoothly. We are making the right decisions to allow us to continue to run a healthy business with a change to our production rate,” a Boeing representative told Avionics Magazine.
“The 747-8 is a great airplane; we stand behind its capabilities and believe it serves a unique need in the market. With recent orders and MOUs and these changes announced today, we anticipate a stable future for the production system. We continue to believe in the long-term strength of the freighter market and the 747-8 is uniquely positioned to capture this demand; of note is the 747-400 freighter replacement market, which begins next decade,” Boeing said.
Boeing also noted that the company is continuing to look at a range of investments to both enhance the long-term stability of the 747-8 production line and performance of the aircraft.