Boeing Gets FAA Approval to Boost 737 Max Production to 42 Jets per Month

Boeing has received FAA approval to increase 737 Max production to 42 jets per month, up from 38, after thorough safety inspections. The FAA set the production limit following a door plug blowout on a 737 Max jet operated by Alaska Airlines in January 2024. Boeing followed a "disciplined process" and worked with the FAA to ensure safety and quality. Production dipped last year due to federal investigations and a machinists' strike, but deliveries have picked up, with 121 737s delivered in the third quarter.

Boeing has received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to increase the production of its 737 MAX aircraft to 42 jets per month, up from the current limit of 38. This decision follows extensive safety inspections conducted by the FAA, which were necessitated by a door plug blowout on a 737 MAX jet operated by Alaska Airlines in January 2024, according to China Daily Asia https://www.chinadailyasia.com/hk/article/621939.

The FAA, after reviewing Boeing's production lines, concluded that the company is now capable of safely increasing production. Boeing has been working diligently to address the safety and quality concerns that led to the production cap, and the company has followed a "disciplined process" in collaboration with the FAA to ensure that the increased production rate is implemented safely, according to Benzinga https://www.benzinga.com/news/travel/25/10/48292971/boeing-gets-faa-green-light-to-boost-737-max-output-after-alaska-airlines-door-plug-blowout.

The production cap was initially imposed after the incident involving Alaska Airlines, which highlighted widespread production safety and quality lapses at Boeing. The company has since taken steps to improve its manufacturing processes and has been under enhanced FAA oversight, as the China Daily Asia piece noted.

Production of the 737 MAX had dipped below the 38-jet limit last year due to federal investigations and a machinists' strike that shut down factories for nearly eight weeks. However, deliveries have shown signs of recovery, with 121 737s delivered in the third quarter of 2024, the Benzinga article reported.

Boeing's move to increase production is critical for the company's financial stability. Planemakers receive the bulk of a customer's payment when they hand over an airplane, and increasing deliveries can help Boeing restore its financial health after years of production disruptions and crises, according to China Daily Asia.

The FAA's oversight will continue, and Boeing will continue to work on strengthening its safety culture. The company is also in the early stages of developing a successor to the 737 MAX, and CEO Kelly Ortberg has indicated that production will not be ramped up until the performance indicators suggest a stable production system, Benzinga reported.

References
Boeing wins FAA approval to hike 737 MAX production to 42 planes per month — https://www.chinadailyasia.com/hk/article/621939