WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Aircraft parts maker Spirit AeroSystems has seen its stock price decline by 20 percent since the Boeing 737 Max jet was grounded but continues to churn out fuselages in anticipation of a rebound when the plane flies again.
Spirit’s president and CEO Tom Gentile says the Wichita-based company is building 52 fuselages a month, although Boeing reduced its production to 42 completed planes per month after two deadly crashes. The Wichita Eagle reports that he says it would take “a very long time to come back” if production was reduced.
For now the extra fuselages are wrapped in plastic and Styrofoam, with a thick orange blanket used to cover them. Gentile says, “They look a little bit like goldfish.”
Gentile says he is hopeful because there has been “an incredible surge in orders” for aircraft with more than 150 seats.
