Boeing has announced a second production rate increase for its 737 family of aircraft from 34 airplanes a month to 35 from May 2012.

In May 2010, the firm ramped up the production rate from 31.4 a month to 34 due to increased demand.

Boeing has revealed that it is anticipating long-term growth in the market, and will prepare for the rate increase over the next 18 months.

The Next-Generation 737 programme continues to incorporate innovations with a package of performance improvements to be delivered by early 2012 that will reduce fuel consumption by 2%.