DUBLIN, Feb 13 (Reuters) - The chief executive of major

Boeing ( BA ) customer Avolon said on Thursday he was really

encouraged by progress being made by the U.S. manufacturer in

stabilising production in the wake of a seven-week strike late

last year.

Boeing ( BA ) on Tuesday said it had delivered 45 airplanes in

January, the most deliveries in a month for the U.S. planemaker

since 2023.

"The level of clarity and visibility on the ramp up of the

production line is impressive ... we are really encouraged by

what we are seeing there," Avolon CEO Andy Cronin said in an

interview on Thursday, following a visit to production

facilities in Seattle last month.

Avolon is the world's second-largest aircraft leasing

company. The sector is responsible for around half of Boeing ( BA ) and

Airbus aircraft orders.

"I think the first step in the journey is getting production

stability, and I think Boeing ( BA ) are making enormous steps forward

on that journey relatively quickly," Cronin said.

Cronin warned, however, that a bumper fourth-quarter of

production at Boeing ( BA ) rival Airbus had put strain on the

supply chain since.

"It certainly puts strain on supply chain, and that stress

continues," he said.

Cronin was speaking following the publication of financial

results for 2024 in which Avolon reported adjusted net income of

$458 million, not including $150 million after-tax income from

settlements of insurance claims in respect of aircraft stranded

in Russia.