Boeing moved into profit in the first quarter of 2004, boosted by surging sales of warplanes and weapons and by a better performance in commercial aircraft.
The aviation, aerospace and defence group upgraded its profit outlook.
Net profit amounted to $623m in the three months to March 31, after a loss of $478m a year earlier. Sales rose 5.7% to $13 billion.
Boeing on Monday formally launched the 7E7 aircraft programme after receiving a record $6 billion order from All Nippon Airways for the 'Dreamliner'. The aircraft is seen as vital to the US aerospace giant if it is to regain its spot as the world's number one manufacturer, a position it lost last year to Europe's Airbus.
The US group also upgraded its outlook, partly because of improved prospects for commercial planes. Boeing said it expected to deliver about 285 planes in 2004 and then 300 in 2005, driven by better demand for single-aisle aircraft.
Boeing said defence system sales surged 18% to $7.4 billion in the quarter and earnings from the sector leapt to $738m from $31m. Revenue from warplane and weapons systems alone jumped 13%.
During the first quarter, deliveries of commercial airplanes increased 7% from a year earlier to 76 planes, but revenues from the business fell 6%.
