Boeing offers more support for MAX suppliers

Boeing s planning more support for suppliers for its 737 MAX jetliner to prepare them for restarting production—and to dissuade some from seeking more business from Airbus. Boeing suspended MAX production in January after building more than 400 planes it was unable to deliver. That has left a network of more than 600 big suppliers and hundreds of smaller firms in limbo about business that in some cases contributed half their annual sales. Many suppliers had expanded factories and hired more staff to help Boeing fill orders for more than 4,500 MAX jets it had planned to build at a rate of 57 a month. Now, analysts say, it could take 3 years to reach that level when production restarts after the plane is cleared to fly again. <br/>