Manufacturer Hopes to Roll Out 42 Jets Per Month And Continue Accelerating Through 2026

Production for the troubled Boeing 737 MAX has been under an FAA-mandated cap of 38 jets a month ever since a door plug blew off an Alaska Airlines flight in early 2024. The plane maker has decided now is the time for a change, seeking a bump up to 42 jets per month as soon as this fall.

The plan could mark the start of a broader ramp-up that continues into 2026, potentially reaching 53 planes per month if all goes well. However, these arrangements remain up in the air; Boeing has yet to publicly confirm the numbers, and the FAA still needs to approve any increase.

The FAA says it will continue “hands-on oversight” at Boeing’s Renton, Washington, plant and across its supplier network before allowing higher output. Administrator Bryan Bedford recently said the agency’s internal teams have not yet recommended lifting the cap, calling the process “methodical” and “bottom-up.” Boeing maintains that its quality systems are improving and that it can safely meet demand without cutting corners.

This is a high-stakes test for Boeing. The 737 MAX program has faced repeated setbacks since its grounding in 2019, from manufacturing lapses to delayed certifications of the smaller MAX 7 and stretched MAX 10. Before those crises, Boeing had been producing more than 50 aircraft a month. It’s now struggling to rebuild that momentum while under scrutiny from regulators, airlines, and investors.

CEO Kelly Ortberg has said that the company is “on track” to reach 42 jets per month by the end of 2025, describing the move as a “measured step” in Boeing’s long-term recovery. Still, supplier strain and FAA oversight could delay that schedule. Some say the real target is less a firm goal and more a signal to vendors to stay ready.

Even if Boeing gets its wish, returning to pre-crisis production levels will take time. Certification for the remaining MAX variants has slipped into 2026, leaving several major airlines waiting on deliveries.

FMI: www.boeing.com