Reuters reported Boeing pledged to improve the efficiency and seating capacity of its 777 jetliner to shore up production of its most profitable airliner as it switches to a newer model.

According to Reuters, the 777 “mini-jumbo” is due for an extensive upgrade from 2020 with new engines and wings, but in the meantime Boeing needs to boost sales of the existing version to avoid having to cut production, which would undermine a key source of cash.

“This combination of improvement in fuel efficiency and more seats will yield about a 5 percent improvement in efficiency per seat,” Randy Tinseth, vice president of marketing at Boeing, told the International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading Conference in Arizona, Reuters reported.

According to Reuters, Boeing CEO Jim McNerney said last month it would have to capture 40 to 60 orders a year to maintain production at a record 8.3 aircraft a month.

To view the full Reuters report, click here.