Air TransportBoeing plans to reach a monthly production rate of 38 737 MAX jets by July, the company’s Vice President of Quality Doug Ackerman said on Tuesday.
That’s the limit imposed by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) since a door plug on an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 exploded in mid-air in January 2024.
The agency has allowed Boeing to increase production of its most popular plane in recent months after accepting changes in manufacturing processes that ensured quality and safety on the assembly line.
The manufacturer, however, could reach the level of 38 737 MAX produced as early as May, sources told Reuters.
Boeing is eagerly seeking to increase production amid a massive backlog of aircraft.
There are more than 4,700 737 MAX orders pending delivery, although a small portion are for aircraft that were completed years ago but have not yet been shipped to customers.
In April, Boeing delivered 29 737 MAXs, a total that could have been higher had it not been for the tariff war between the US and China, which led to the return of three aircraft.
The two countries, however, have agreed to a 90-day truce while they negotiate more favorable terms. In light of this, the Chinese government has allowed its airlines to resume deliveries of Boeing planes.
