Boeing’s 777 freighter and 767 assembly lines remain disrupted despite a settlement with a key supplier over missing rib kits. The two-month stall has cost the company roughly $6.5 million per day, raising concerns about meeting 2026 delivery targets. The firm is now moving to bring manufacturing of these components in-house to better manage its supply chain risks.
Boeing is facing ongoing production delays for its 777 freighter and 767 aircraft following a supply chain dispute that grounded assembly for two months. The issue stems from a lack of trailing-edge rib kits, which are essential components for wing assembly. While Boeing reached a legal settlement with the Florida-based supplier, Vaero, in late September, the company is still working to get production back to normal levels.
The cost of this disruption has been substantial, with industry reports indicating a loss of approximately $6.5 million for every day the production line remained at a standstill. The delays have been severe enough that Boeing had to remove partially completed aircraft from its assembly line to create space for other tasks. Among the impacted units is at least one aircraft that was meant for delivery to FedEx. While the newer 777X model, which uses a different composite wing structure, remains unaffected, the stall has created a bottleneck for the older freighter and passenger models.
To prevent similar issues in the future, Boeing is now planning to bring the production of these critical wing components inside its own facilities. This move reflects a broader trend in the aerospace industry, where companies are increasingly looking to control their supply chains rather than relying on a single, outside source. However, moving production in-house requires significant money spent on equipment and training, which can put pressure on cash flow in the short term. It also introduces the challenge of setting up high-precision manufacturing processes.
This incident adds to the list of challenges Boeing has faced regarding production quality and supply chain stability. For investors, the immediate concern is whether the company can meet its 2026 delivery goals. While Boeing has managed to deliver 21 freighters so far this year, the two-month gap in production makes the remaining targets harder to hit. A small number of freighters that already had their wings completed before the dispute may still be delivered by the end of the year, providing some relief.
Global aerospace companies often rely on a network of suppliers to build complex machinery. Any disruption in this network can have a ripple effect, including on component suppliers in other regions, such as India, that are integrated into the global aerospace chain. Investors should track the pace at which Boeing ramps up its internal manufacturing capabilities and whether it can return to its original delivery schedule for the 777 freighter program in the coming quarters.