Boeing May Deliver 737 Max Ahead of Target

Boeing Co. will deliver the first 737 Max jetliner ahead of schedule if testing goes smoothly, Chief Financial Officer Greg Smith said Wednesday.

Mr. Smith said the single-aisle jet's development is "ahead of schedule" and any decision on accelerated deliveries will depend on its certification and flight-testing effort, which kicked off with its maiden sortie Jan. 29.

Boeing currently plans to deliver the first 737 Max aircraft to Southwest Airlines Co. in the third quarter of 2017.

"We have an opportunity to [deliver early]," said Mr. Smith at an investor event. "I'd say it's a little early to raise the victory flag at this point on deliveries, but we are focused on that and if we can do it and our customers can accommodate it, we will."

Southwest Chief Operating Officer Mike Van de Ven said the airline has "not had discussions with Boeing about an adjusted timeline" for its first 737 Max delivery. "We will be ready when the aircraft is delivered," he said.

The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that Boeing has been discussing an advanced delivery timeline, should its aerial tests go smoothly, pushing the handover up by as much as six months.

Boeing holds orders for nearly 3,100 737 Max aircraft. Its shares were recently up 0.8% at $118.43.

Write to Jon Ostrower at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

February 03, 2016 11:45 ET (16:45 GMT)

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