Embattled Boeing posts smaller loss as more Americans fly

Boeing Co reported a smaller quarterly loss on Wednesday as increased 737 MAX jet deliveries reflected a cautious rebound in air travel from the coronavirus pandemic, though the embattled US planemaker took a charge on its Air Force One presidential aircraft program.

But optimism in a resurgent US domestic travel market is offset by growing concerns over COVID variants in India and elsewhere, clouding the industry's recovery.

Boeing has delivered more than 85 737 MAX jetliners, out of a backlog of hundreds, since it was cleared by most regulators to re-enter service late last year following two fatal crashes, lifting revenue and cash flow.

But Boeing's workhorse for short-haul travel remains banned in the rebounding China market, where Boeing remains exposed to long-simmering geopolitical tensions that have continued under US President Joe Biden.

A new electrical grounding problem found on some models of the jet earlier this month has also cast a shadow on Boeing's freshly re-affirmed plans to increase 737 MAX production to 31 planes per month by early 2022. Airlines have pulled dozens of 737 MAX jets from service, awaiting repairs.

Boeing's newly prolonged Chief Executive Dave Calhoun told CNBC he could not predict when the 737 MAX's electrical grounding issue would be resolved, and sounded a note of caution over India and the long-off recovery of international travel.

But Calhoun said Boeing would return to positive free cash flow in 2022 and pointed to signs of recovery in 2021.

"It's an inflection point," Calhoun said. "Traffic really is ready to burst back."

Boeing shares fell 2.9% to $235.31, compared to a fractionally lower Dow Jones Industrial Average.

Analysts will be pressing Calhoun for updates on a barrage of technical and financial challenges and plans for a potential new jetliner to counter Airbus' A321.

Last week, Boeing said it extended its required retirement age of 65 to 70 to allow Calhoun, 64, to stay in the top job.

Calhoun aims to stay in the role until he is 70, insiders say. His decision surprised many in the industry who saw him as a shorter-term crisis manager and triggered the upcoming exit of Boeing's well-regarded CFO and heir-apparent for the job, Greg Smith, 54.

Boeing also reaffirmed a sharply-reduced production rate of five 787 jetliners per month after consolidating production at its South Carolina factory.

It is facing reduced demand due to the pandemic's impact on longer-haul travel, and a growing price tag for 787 retrofits due to production defects embedded in dozens of the advanced carbon-composite jetliners.

It still expects to deliver the first 777X mini-jumbo in late 2023 despite certification and design challenges, with a combined output of the new 777X and its 777 legacy model of two a month.

The US planemaker reported a core operating loss of $353 million in the first quarter, its sixth-straight quarterly loss, compared with a loss of $1.70 billion a year earlier.

Boeing recorded a $318-million pre-tax charge related to Air Force One presidential aircraft.

Boeing sued supplier GDC earlier this month for failing to complete interior work on the two heavily modified 747-8 Air Force One planes. GDC countersued, seeking at least $20 million for cancelling the contracts. GDC Technics filed for bankruptcy on Monday.

In July 2018, Boeing received a $3.9-billion contract to build two 747-8 aircraft for use as Air Force One, due to be delivered by December 2024.

In the quarter, Boeing completed a hot-fire engine test on NASA's forthcoming SLS rocket and started production on the US Air Force's new trainer jet.