Boeing has reportedly received approval from the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to increase production of the 737 MAX. According to a report by The Seattle Times, the American aircraft manufacturer will now be able to produce up to 42 jets per month.
Previously, production of the Boeing 737 MAX was capped at 38 units per month by the FAA. The limit was introduced in early 2024 following an incident involving an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9, during which a door panel blew out mid-flight, revealing quality lapses at Boeing.
Restoring Control In Its Manufacturing Processes
The news about the 737 MAX production rate increase suggests that the FAA believes Boeing has made significant improvements to its safety and manufacturing practices following the January 2024 737 MAX 9 incident, during which a door panel blew out mid-flight. The planned ramp-up is also viewed as a sign that Boeing’s management is regaining control over its internal processes, a step that could help the company strengthen its financial position as well.
According to a report by Reuters, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford called 
“FAA safety inspectors conducted extensive reviews of Boeing’s production lines to ensure that this small production rate increase will be done safely.”
Carefully Scaling Up Production
The American plane maker is taking a cautious approach to increasing production of the Boeing 737 MAX. According to The Seattle Times, Boeing’s CEO Kelly Ortberg told analysts that the company plans to raise output in steps of five aircraft at a time, with each increase subject to a safety and quality review by the FAA.
Boeing has produced 450 737 MAX aircraft per year, based on its monthly rate of 38 jets. This remains below the company’s target of 50 per month, or roughly 600 aircraft annually. If the new rate of 42 jets per month is maintained throughout the year, Boeing would produce approximately 504 737 MAX aircraft each year.
However, Ortberg reportedly noted that the company anticipates roughly six months between each production rate increase. In fact, earlier media reports indicated that workers at Boeing’s Seattle-area factories have been preparing for the higher 737 production rate by installing additional equipment to boost capacity. According to Bloomberg, Boeing is 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.
737 MAX 7 & 10 Certification Delayed Until 2026
The vast majority of the global 737 MAX 8 and MAX 9 fleet has been in service since their debut in 2017 and 2018, respectively, except during the worldwide groundings that followed after the Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines crashes, which were linked to the faulty MCAS system. The current certification issues pertain to the shortest-cabin Boeing 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 Boeing 737 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.