Boeing has begun building the first 777 at the increased rate of 8.3 per month, the highest production rate ever for a twin-aisle airliner.
The production rate represents a 20 per cent increase over the previous seven per month rate, and has been made possible through the employment of additional staff and new equipment such as ‘Flex-Track’ drilling machines for the body and wings area and automated spray-painting equipment.
The first 777 to come off the Everett line at the increased rate will be a freighter variant for Korean Air, expected to be delivered in February 2013. There are currently 1,049 777s in service of the 1,380 ordered.
