March 5 (Bloomberg) -- Boeing Co. is in talks for the manufacture of as many as 10 fuselages a month for its new 787 Dreamliner, more than the seven originally agreed with Finmeccanica SpA's Alenia Aeronautica.

Alenia is spending 550 million euros ($720.2 million) to build 14 percent of the Dreamliner's structure, including two body sections and the horizontal tail, Alenia Chief Executive Officer Giuseppe Giordo said in an interview.

``We are now planning seven a month and also discussing the possibility of 10 a month,'' Giordo said. ``If things continue as they are with 787 orders, we will have to start talking to Boeing about more.''

Boeing spokeswoman Yvonne Leach declined to comment on 787 production plans, except to say a decision on an increase would be made this summer. The Dreamliner now has firm orders for 464 planes from 37 airlines, making it Boeing's most successful new airliner program. The company is the second-largest commercial aircraft-maker after Airbus SAS.

Finmeccanica Chief Executive Pier Francesco Guarguaglini said in a March 16, 2005 interview that Boeing had asked the company to potentially double its production rate to 14 fuselages a month.

``Everything is feasible,'' Giordo said last week. ``The issue is investment. Sometimes it's not a matter of technological feasibility; it's the investment and business case it takes to make it happen.''

Talks With Suppliers

Boeing CEO James McNerney has been in talks with 787 suppliers for more than a year to find ways to increase production as demand for the Dreamliner exceeds initial plans. He is also investing an additional $1 billion to keep new- aircraft programs, including the 787, and their suppliers on schedule.

The 787 is still slated for delivery in May 2008, even as Boeing spends the additional money on parts makers that have fallen behind, McNerney said on Feb. 6. Boeing is sending its own engineers to suppliers producing the composite carbon-fiber wing and body parts, including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd., Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. and Alenia. The engineers are there to make sure the first parts come in when they're needed.

Shares of Boeing fell 1 cent to $87.02 at 4:01 p.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. They have climbed 20 percent in the past year. Rome-based Finmeccanica lost 9 euro cents to 21.81 euros in Milan. The stock has increased 14 percent in the last 12 months.

Now on Schedule

Giordo declined to give specific details on problems that put his company behind. He said Alenia's work on the aircraft components is now proceeding on schedule, with the first parts arriving in Charleston, South Carolina, from Italy before the end of this quarter.

``The program is going as expected,'' he said. ``Nothing is easy in the beginning when you're talking about such a high-tech program.''

Alenia and closely held Vought Aircraft Industries Inc. of Dallas are in a joint venture based in Charleston, where fuselage elements will be stuffed with parts, then delivered to Boeing's Everett, Washington, plant for assembly with components from Japan, Italy and Wichita, Kansas. Boeing's goal is to put the plane together in three days.

The aircraft maker plans to deliver a total of 112 twin- engine 787s in 2008 and 2009. That is an increase from an earlier projection of 96. Any further boost in production would start in 2010.

Alenia will have 1,000 workers dedicated to the 787 by the end of the year, Giordo said. The company's joint venture with Vought employs about 450, he said.

To contact the reporter on this story: James Gunsalus in Seattle at jgunsalus@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: March 5, 2007 16:23 EST