Slideshow ( 2 images )

NEW YORK (Reuters) - General Electric Co GE.N still expects the grounding of Boeing Co's BA.N 737 MAX jetliner to reduce its cash flow by $1.4 billion in 2019, provided the aircraft remains grounded all year, GE Chief Executive Larry Culp said during a conference call on quarterly earnings on Wednesday.

GE and French partner Safran SA SAF.PA make engines for the jet.

“As we think about 2020, I think we’re going to try to follow Boeing’s lead here,” Culp said, responding to an analyst question.

“When we talk about the full-year cash headwinds this year due to MAX, that, obviously, assumes that we don’t see a return to service this year,” he said. He added the forecast is conservative.

GE’s chief financial officer, Jamie Miller, said GE still expects “the year to be impacted to the tune of about negative $1.4 billion.” She said it was “difficult to predict” the financial impact on GE in 2020 and beyond.

Boeing has said it expects the jet to clear approval by U.S. regulators by year-end. Global aviation regulators grounded the jet after a second fatal crash last March.