Boeing boosts production of 777s

US aerospace giant Boeing says it will ramp up production of its 777 and 747-8 planes to support anticipated rising customer demand in a recovering airplane market.

"Our customers recognise the great capability and value of the 777 and 747-8," said Jim Albaugh, Boeing Commercial Airplanes(BCA) president and chief executive.

"Market improvement and our conservatively managed approach to production have put us in a position where we see it necessary to raise aircraft output. Increasing our rate is the right thing to do to support our customers," he said in a statement on Friday.

Boeing plans to increase the rate of production of the twin-aisle 777 airliner to seven airplanes per month from five, bringing forward a timetable by about six months, to mid-2011 from early 2012.

In April 2009, amid the global economic crisis, Boeing had announced it would scale back the 777's rate of production to three planes per month, from the current five, beginning in June 2010.

For the jumbo 747-8, the Chicago-based company on Friday advanced its planned production rate increase to two airplanes per month from one-and-a-half per month by a year, to mid-2012 from mid-2013.

"We see 2010 as the year of overall economic recovery within the industry and 2011 a year where airlines return to profitability," said Randy Tinseth, vice-president of marketing for BCA.

"As a result, we anticipate an increase in demand for airplanes in 2012 and beyond."

The company said it did not expect the accelerated production to have a material impact on 2010 financial results.

Boeing shares leapt 2.13 per cent to $US72.38 in early New York trading.