Boeing Focuses on 787 Fix; 4Q Profit Tops Estimate

Boeing Co. said Wednesday that its top priority this year is fixing the battery problems that grounded its 787. The company made the pledge while reporting a fourth-quarter profit that topped Wall Street estimates, as rising profits from commercial jets offset a smaller profit from defense work. “Our first order of business for 2013 is to resolve the battery issue on the 787 and return the airplanes safely to service with our customers,” said Jim McNerney, Boeing’s chairman, president, and CEO. It’s not clear how long that will take, and Boeing didn’t make any predictions on Wednesday. The 787s are grounded while investigators try to figure out what caused two battery incidents earlier this month, including a fire on a plane parked in Boston. (MORE: Boeing 787 Probe Shifts to Monitoring System Maker) U.S. aviation officials have asked Boeing for a full opera...