With delivery delays of around 15 months now expected for the Boeing 787 program, where does Boeing turn to help its customers?

One suggestion was upping the production of the 767, currently at one a month. This won’t work–it takes about two years to do so, according to Boeing. By then the 787 program should be more or less back on track.

A blogger suggested that the 777 could be the answer. Not likely, either, because the 777 has a four year backlog and is being produced at the rate of seven a month, its highest ever.

The used airplane market is very tight. Boeing is looking for 777s, 767s and even Airbus A330s and A340s with little luck.

Boeing and the airlines will have to cope as best they can.

Here’s the backlog chart for Boeing. The production rates are:

737: ~30/mo

747: 1/mo

767: 1/mo

777: 7/mo

787: planned–initially 3/mo, increasing to 10/mo within 18 mo