Boeing said today over 1,620 of its aircraft in the United States are contracted to be fitted with reinforced bullet-proof cockpit doors and that all planes should be altered by the April 2003 deadline.
Mandates forcing international airlines flying to the United States to match the latest Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) guidelines were likely to quickly follow, said Boeing, which is talking to Qantas and Singapore Airlines about tougher security.
Five US carriers have so far contracted to have 1,627 of their aircraft fitted with the doors designed to prevent cockpit intrusion and resist certain gunfire and explosives, said Boeing, which has a fleet of 5,500 aircraft flying in the United States.
"We know we have the capacity to supply the number of doors we think the airlines are going to want," Mr John Banbury, a member of Boeing's security and safety services team, said.
The FAA orders requiring US carriers to replace cockpit doors and related bulkhead structures is expected to cost the airline industry between $92.3 million and $120.7 million. It will be partly financed by a federal grant.