Boeing Nears 737 Output Milestone as CEO Steadies Factories (1)

Boeing Co. has told customers that it’s approaching a key production target that would signal manufacturing of its all-important 737 jet is back on track following last year’s harrowing mid-air accident.

The planemaker is loading its 737 final assembly lines to build 38 of the narrowbody aircraft a month, the maximum allowed by the Federal Aviation Administration, said John Plueger, the chief executive officer of Air Lease, the largest US aircraft financier.

Spirit AeroSystems Holdings Inc., which builds most of the jet’s frame in Wichita, Kansas, is shipping about nine 737 fuselages each week to Boeing ...