Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg Says 'We’re ​Off And Rolling’ After FAA Clearance To Produce 47 737 Max Jets A Month

• Boeing currently produces 42 units monthly and could increase production in a couple of months.
• Production was limited to 38 units monthly after a near-catastrophic mid-air incident involving a door panel in January 2024.
• Ortberg said recent Chinese orders for narrowbody aircraft was a 'good start.'

Boeing (BA) is preparing to increase production of its 737 Max aircraft to 47 jets per month after completing a key review process with the Federal Aviation Administration, CEO Kelly Ortberg said on Wednesday.

Ortberg said the company has already started operating production lines at the higher rate and expects to fully reach that level within the next few months. The aerospace behemoth currently produces 42 737 Max narrowbody aircraft a month.

“We’re ​off and rolling at ‌the ⁠47 rate, and we should be there ​in ​the ⁠next couple of months,” Ortberg ​said at the ​⁠Bernstein Annual Strategic Decisions Conference.

BA shares were up around 1% at the time of writing.

BA Targets 63 Units Per Month

The production increase marks another milestone in Boeing’s recovery after the FAA imposed limits in 2024 following a mid-air incident in which a door panel detached from a 737 Max jet. The incident exposed manufacturing and quality-control issues that forced the company to reduce output to 38 units a month.

Ortberg said Boeing is now confident in its safety and quality systems as it works toward higher output levels. The company ultimately hopes to raise production to 63 aircraft per month.

“We’d like to get someday to a 63-a-month rate, and so we’re looking forward to that. The market will support those higher rates,” he added.

BA’s China Orders Highlight Progress, Says Ortberg

Ortberg also highlighted Boeing’s improving position in China, where the company recently secured a commitment for 200 aircraft.

“My primary objective was to reopen that market to our narrowbody airplanes. As you know, we hadn’t had an order in nearly a decade. It’s a good start,” Ortberg said.  

Earlier this month, President Donald Trump paid a pivotal visit to China alongside a high-profile delegation of business leaders, including Elon Musk, Tim Cook, Jensen Huang, and Larry Fink, among others.

Retail’s Reaction To BA Stock Movement

Retail sentiment for BA on Stocktwits has remained ‘bearish’ over the past 24 hours.

One user expressed frustration over the stock’s inability to hold a key level.

Another user said a breakout is long overdue.

Boeing shares have gained around 2.4% so far this year.

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