By David Shepardson, Allison Lampert and Tim Hepher (Reuters) -Spirit AeroSystems said on Tuesday it would receive up to $350 million in advance payments from its largest customer Boeing, giving the struggling supplier a lifeline as it burns cash after four consecutive years of losses.

Spirit AeroSystems said on Tuesday that Boeing will pay a total of up to $350 million in advance payments to the firm, providing the struggling supplier a lifeline as it continues to burn cash after four consecutive years of losses.

Spirit AeroSystems and Boeing are close to reaching a funding agreement that would give a cash lifeline to the struggling Boeing supplier, an industry source familiar with the matter said.

Boeing has agreed to pay Spirit AeroSystems up to $350 million in advance to keep producing products for it as the fuselage supplier works through a liquidity crunch. The jet maker said Tuesday that the advance payments are intended to help Spirit address high levels of inventory and lower operational cash flows.

By David Shepardson and Allison Lampert (Reuters) -Spirit AeroSystems said Tuesday that planemaker Boeing will pay up to $350 million in advance payments to the firm, providing the struggling supplier a lifeline as it continues to burn cash after four consecutive years of losses.