Boeing likely to match Airbus on single-aisle output

Boeing Co is likely to broadly match European rival Airbus SA in notching up production of single-aisle aircraft to 60 a month, but the timing of Boeing's move remains uncertain, according to a person familiar with the situation.

Airbus said it would lift monthly output of its top-selling A320 to 60 in mid-2019, a 20 per cent jump over its prior target of 50, and a move seen pressuring Boeing to match with its competing 737 jetliner.

Boeing is talking with suppliers about how soon they could keep up with 60 a month for the 737, the source said, having already determined the higher rate is feasible.

"That's where the discussion is," said the source, who was not authorised to speak publicly about the talks. Boeing declined to comment.

Boeing and Airbus are leapfrogging each others' plans to lift output of single-aisle planes as they work through backlogs that stretch out eight to 10 years.