UK to announce $10 billion Boeing purchase, US commerce secretary says

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United Kingdom will purchase $10 billion of Boeing planes, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said on Thursday during the announcement of a bilateral trade deal between the UK and the United States, though the details were unclear.

Such an order would add to an already large backlog of Boeing planes slated for UK purchasers - 149 in total, according to Boeing's published backlog. 

Lutnick indicated the deal was a private-sector purchase, saying he would let the airline making it announce the details. The White House's graphic with the broad terms of the deal referred to $10 billion in "aircraft parts" purchases, without further details.

It's not clear what kind of planes would be involved in the deal and whether any agreement would involve firm orders or options. Boeing declined to comment. 

British Airways has been in talks to acquire more widebody jets, either Airbus A350s or Boeing 787s, both of which it already operates, according to a source familiar with the matter.

The UK backlog includes unfulfilled orders for 109 planes from airlines and 40 for a leasing company, according to Boeing's website. Based on the models ordered, UK companies have an estimated $12 billion-plus worth in planes due from Boeing.

Planemakers have been wrestling with supply-chain snags and other challenges that have delayed deliveries. Boeing is trying to ramp up production of its strongest selling 737 MAX jet to a rate of 38 a month this year, after a difficult 2024 when output slumped due to a broad quality crisis that led to the replacement of its CEO.

Virgin, which operates Boeing planes, said they were not involved in a deal. International Airlines Group, whose subsidiary British Airways operates several Boeing widebody jets within its fleet, was not immediately available for comment.

Boeing shares rose on the news, and were up around 4.4% in midday trading.

(Reporting by Andrea Shalal and Gram Slattery in Washington, Allison Lampert in Montreal and Joanna Plucinska in London; additional reporting by Tim Hepher in Paris; Editing by Mark Porter and Nick Zieminski, Kirsten Donovan)