Planemaker May Announce Location In Six To Eight Months

Boeing has committed to the re-vamped 737 MAX, but the company is holding the location where it plans to build the airplane close to the vest. And, there is no timeline for the conversion of provisional commitments to firm orders.

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Speaking in Taipei, Boeing's VP for commercial airplane marketing Randy Tinseth said the company is "looking at a number of potential options" for assembly of the upgraded single-aisle workhorse airliner. Reuters reports that Tinseth said the conversion from commitments to orders will be done "on a case-by-case basis."

So far, Boeing says it has about 600 "commitments" from eight customers for the 737 MAX, a re-engined version of its best-selling airliner positioned to compete with Airbus' A320neo. The decision to re-engine the 737 was made at the time American Airlines was considering fleet replacement, and Airbus stood to take the lions share of the business with its re-engined A320.

The 737 is currently put together in Renton, WA, in a twin-assembly line facility. The company continues to be at odds with unions over its new, non-union plant in South Carolina, where some Dreamliners are being assembled.

FMI: www.boeing.com