June 4 (Reuters) - Boeing ( BA ) is exploring raising

production of its bestselling 737 jet beyond its publicly stated

target of 63 aircraft per month, the Air Current reported on

Thursday.

The planemaker is drafting plans and assessing whether its

suppliers could support raising output of its narrowbody jets to

around 70 per month, the report said, citing people familiar

with the matter.

The lofty target would test the resilience of its supply

chain and bring Boeing's ( BA ) production plans closer to rival

Airbus' output goals for its competing narrowbody

family.

The studies are at an early stage and the higher cadence may

not be adopted, the report said.

The U.S. planemaker said in May it was raising production of its

737 MAX jets to 47 per month from 42, after consulting with the

U.S. Federal Aviation Administration.

"We're off and rolling at the 47 rate, and we should be

there in the next couple months," CEO Kelly Ortberg had said at

the Bernstein conference in May.

When contacted for comment, Boeing ( BA ) referred to remarks made

by Ortberg at the conference, without providing further details.

Airbus has long aimed for a monthly output of 75 A320neo-family

jets, but repeatedly pushed the target due to supply-chain

constraints. It now expects to reach 70-75 per month by the end

of 2027, with plans to stabilize production at 75 thereafter.

It is currently producing an average of about 60 narrowbody

jets per month.