Oct 1 (Reuters) - Boeing ( BA ) is considering raising

at least $10 billion by selling new stock, Bloomberg News

reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the

discussions.

The planemaker is working with advisers to explore its

options, the report said, adding that raising equity is not

likely to happen for at least a month.

Boeing ( BA ) declined to comment on the Bloomberg report.

Last month

, CFO Brian West did not directly answer when asked if

Boeing ( BA ) may need to raise debt or equity by the year-end or early

2025.

"First of all, we want to prioritize the investment

grade credit rating. And secondly, we want to allow the factory

and the supply chain to stabilize. That last objective just got

harder based on last night," he had said, referring to the

ongoing strike by over 30,000 workers.

The planemaker has been under pressure from slumping

production of its strongest-selling 737 MAX jet, after a January

incident when a door panel blew off a new model mid-air.

Its finances were further strained after thousands of

workers represented by the International Association of

Machinists and Aerospace Workers in the Seattle and Portland

areas walked off the job in September.

Boeing ( BA ) is carrying a heavy debt load of about $60 billion

and posted operating cash flow losses of more than $7 billion

for the first half of 2024, according to data compiled by LSEG.

The U.S. planemaker had previously signaled it would

consider issuing equity as it deals with ongoing safety problems

exposed by the January blowout and looming debt maturities.

Industry experts had said Boeing ( BA ) would likely need to raise

cash by the end of 2024, with some analysts and investors

expecting the company to raise between $10 billion and $12

billion.

Boeing ( BA ) has just under $4.6 billion in bonds and loans coming

due by end of 2025, according to data compiled by LSEG.

Shares of the planemaker rose about 1% in morning trading.