- Boeing (BA -0.7%), which loses ~$23M on every 787 Dreamliner passenger jet that leaves the factory, is trying to stem the losses by cutting the use of titanium, according to a Reuters analysis.
- Titanium costs 7x more than aluminum and accounts for ~$17M of the cost of the $260M plane, and makes up 15% of the 259K lbs. an empty 787 weighs, far more than other Boeing jetliners.
- Boeing's other commercial planes are profitable, and on Wednesday, the company repeated its pledge to break even on the 787 this year on a cash basis; but substituting other metals would not be easy, as steel weighs 65% more than titanium, and aluminum lacks titanium's strength and has the corrosion problem.