Boeing's factory in Everett, Wash. Photo: Stephen Brashear/Getty Images
Boeing delivered an encouraging earnings report today despite concerns about the impact on the company of President Trump's trade war.
State of play: The aircraft maker beat earnings estimates and said it's progressing on its path to boosting production of its 737, which has been caught up in regulatory scrutiny.
The company's currently making "in the low 30s" of the crucial narrow body per month, and expects to get to 38 over the next few months, CEO Kelly Ortberg said, referring to the FAA's current production limit.
Boeing expects to "request an increase to 42 per month with the FAA later this year," Ortberg said.
🇺🇸/🇨🇳 Threat level: China recently barred its airlines from accepting Boeing jet deliveries in retaliation for Trump's tariffs, and Ortberg today said the company has an immediate solution for what he called the "unfortunate situation" — redirecting supply to other customers.
"We're not going to continue to build aircraft for customers who will not take them."
