Boeing Co. is considering temporarily halting production of the 737 Max as regulatory clearance for the grounded jet’s return looks increasingly likely to slip beyond January 2020, said a person familiar with the matter.
While the board is also studying another slowdown in output for its best-selling jet, executives are convinced a temporary pause would be less disruptive, said the person, who asked not to be identified as the discussions are confidential. The Wall Street Journal reported earlier that the production plans have become more urgent as the US Federal Aviation Administration signaled it wouldn’t certify the revamped Max this year.
A decision could come as soon as Monday as Boeing’s directors review the manufacturing plans for the 737 program, the company’s biggest source of cash, as part of a regularly scheduled December board meeting.
