Boeing Hoping to Reach 38 737 MAX Jets Per Month

Company officials said they want to reach the 38 airplane ceiling set by the FAA after a door plug blowout last year.

737 MAX aircraft in Renton (Photo: Shutterstock | Thiago B Trevisan)

[ Planes ]May 23, 2025 9:28 am ET

By Zach Vasile

Boeing is raising its production target for the 737 MAX to 38 aircraft per month, according to Reuters.

The outlet said Boeing officials communicated the new target to reporters this week. The goal is to stabilize production at 38 jets within the next few months, and possibly as soon as this month.

Production of the best-selling 737 MAX has fluctuated over the last year due to supply chain disruptions and a strike by the company’s machinists that lasted almost two months. Boeing also slowed work and stepped up safety protocols after a 737 MAX door plug blew out on an Alaska Airlines flight in January 2024. After the incident, the FAA capped production of the aircraft at 38 per month and increased inspections and quality audits at Boeing’s facilities.

The cause of the blowout is still under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board. The Department of Justice also said it is looking into the matter.

A United Boeing 737 MAX aircraft (Photo: AirlineGeeks | William Derrickson)

It is not clear when the FAA plans to waive the production cap. Last month, Boeing officials said they would eventually like to reach 48 737 MAX jets per month.

New Goal

Now under CEO Kelly Ortberg, Boeing is emerging from one of the most trying years in its history. The manufacturer recorded a nearly $12 billion loss in 2024, largely due to the strike, and CEO Dave Calhoun and board chairman Larry Kellner both stepped down from their posts. Continued fallout from two fatal 737 MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019 has raised concerns about the company’s quality standards and workplace morale.

Production delays at Boeing have forced some of the world’s largest airlines to adjust their plans for new and existing routes.

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Zach Vasile

Zach Vasile is a writer and editor covering news in all aspects of commercial aviation. He has reported for and contributed to the Manchester Journal Inquirer, the Hartford Business Journal, the Charlotte Observer, and the Washington Examiner, with his area of focus being the intersection of business and government policy.

Author

Zach Vasile

Zach Vasile is a writer and editor covering news in all aspects of commercial aviation. He has reported for and contributed to the Manchester Journal Inquirer, the Hartford Business Journal, the Charlotte Observer, and the Washington Examiner, with his area of focus being the intersection of business and government policy.
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