Boeing Says It Could End 747 Production

Boeing could end production of the iconic 747, as it faces falling orders and pricing pressure, according to a regulatory filing.

"If we are unable to obtain sufficient orders and/or market, production and other risks cannot be mitigated, we could record additional losses that may be material, and it is reasonably possible that we could decide to end production of the 747," Boeing said.

Boeing said it had cancelled plans to increase production of the 747 to one plane per month from 2019, and stuck to its plan of halving the production rate in September.

"On the 747… we decided to reduce future production expectations and revenue assumptions to account for current and anticipated weakness in the air cargo market," chief executive Dennis Muilenburg said.

"Despite the ongoing challenges of the air cargo market, we continue to see the 747 as a unique and significant value creator for our customers over the long term," Muilenburg said.

Boeing declined to elaborate on the filing or the comments.

The production rate of the 747, which was 1.5 per month in June 2015, dropped to one per month this month.

The latest version of the 747 is used by Cathay Pacific, Lufthansa and Air China, among others.