Boeing has halted production of its 777 freighter for nearly two months and disrupted output of the 767 line due to a dispute with a Florida-based supplier, according to Boeing workers and court filings. The manufacturer filed a complaint in August alleging that the supplier, Vaero, stopped delivering trailing-edge rib kits, which Boeing described as an "indispensable" wing component. While the two companies reached a settlement in late September, workers familiar with the matter stated that 777 freighter production has not yet resumed.
The disruption has primarily impacted the Everett, Washington, wing-production facility that supports both the 777 freighter and 767 programs. The 767 production line includes commercial freighters and KC-46 aerial refueling tankers used by the U.S. military. According to one worker, Boeing has received some parts for the 767 since the settlement, but two partially assembled 777 freighters were removed from the final assembly line due to the missing components. Using data from aviation consultancy IBA, one of the affected aircraft was identified as destined for FedEx.
In its legal filings, Boeing stated that Vaero was the sole supplier of the rib kits and estimated that the disruption was costing the company as much as $6.5 million per day. To mitigate future supply issues, Boeing is reportedly attempting to bring the production of these components in-house. The manufacturer's 777X program has remained unaffected because that aircraft utilizes composite wings that do not require the specific parts involved in the dispute. Boeing declined to comment, while Vaero and FedEx did not respond to requests for comment.
For workers at the Everett, Washington, facility, the disruption led to the physical removal of incomplete aircraft from the final assembly line. The situation highlights a vulnerability for the aerospace industry: a single dispute with one small supplier can stall production for a primary global aircraft manufacturer. According to sources, Boeing is now pursuing moving production of the parts in-house to avoid similar shutdowns.
What happens next depends on how quickly Boeing can stabilize its in-house manufacturing or fully restore the supply chain from Vaero. While some parts for the 767 program have started to arrive following the September settlement, the 777 freighter line remained inactive as of October 23, 2026. Boeing workers indicated that a handful of freighters with wings assembled before the dispute began could still be delivered before the end of the year, but a specific date for the full resumption of 777 production was not reported.