Boeing is set to increase its 737 MAX production rate to 42 jets per month, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke to Bloomberg. The change could reportedly take effect as soon as this month, as the American aircraft manufacturer has begun instructing its suppliers to prepare for the ramp-up.
Currently, production of the Boeing 737 MAX is capped at 38 units per month by the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The limit was introduced in early 2024 following an incident involving an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9, during which a door plug blew out mid-flight. The news comes almost a month after the head of the FAA remarked to reporters that America’s top aviation authority was still reviewing the monthly production limit on Boeing 737 MAX jets.
Pending Approval From The Regulator
The Bloomberg report regarding the production ramp-up is seen as a sign that Boeing’s management is working to reestablish control over its manufacturing processes. However, for 
Boeing to begin producing 42 737 MAX jets per month, the US aviation regulator will first need to grant approval.
A global grounding, the COVID-19 pandemic, and increased regulatory oversight have disrupted the 737 MAX program. Before the grounding, Boeing’s Renton plant was set to build over 50 aircraft a month, yielding around 620 aircraft annually, combining the final 737NG deliveries with the new 737 MAX series. Boeing resumed production after a complete shutdown in January 2020.
Boeing currently produces around 450 737 MAX aircraft per year, based on its rapid production rate of 38 planes per month. That is below its target of reaching 50 per month, which would equal about 600 aircraft annually. According to Bloomberg, the American plane maker is also preparing to ramp up production again in April and once more toward the end of 2026. Combined, these planned increases could raise monthly output to around 53 aircraft by the end of next year, according to the report.
Long, Ongoing FAA Review
In early September 2025, the head of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) told reporters that the agency was still reviewing the monthly production cap on Boeing’s 737 MAX jets. The manufacturing process has come under increased scrutiny following the Alaska Airlines door plug incident in early 2024.
Reuters quoted FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford as saying that “progress is being made. It may not be as fast as Boeing would like, but it is as fast as we can reasonably move through the process.”
Later that month, Bedford added that the review process was still underway, explaining that this is going to be a bottom-up process, adding that “it’s really on our front-line FAA team to make the recommendation on whether they believe we’ve reached certain milestones that would justify any change. None of those recommendations have come up yet. That tells me the work is still ongoing.”
737 MAX 7 & 10 Certification Delayed Until 2026
The vast majority of the global fleet of 737 MAX 8 and MAX 9 have served well since debuting in 2017 and 2018, respectively. The current certification issues pertain to the shortest-cabin 737 MAX 7 and stretched Boeing 737 MAX 10.
According to the latest updates, the certification of Boeing’s 737 MAX 7 and MAX 10 has been delayed, with the earliest expected timeline for approval being 2026, primarily due to complications with a redesign of the aircraft’s engine anti-ice system.
There is a long line of airlines around the world awaiting the arrival of the MAX 10, especially as it is highly anticipated to improve operations and reduce costs at the highest-density hubs. Five airlines have each ordered over 100 of the MAX 10, including United Airlines, Ryanair, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Akasa, and Pegasus. Others have ordered around 50 each, like Alaska Airlines, Lion Air, Air India Express, and WestJet.
