Boeing’s commercial airplane division is setting its sights on boosting production of its top-selling 737 MAX jet, with the company’s aviation chief signaling plans to push output beyond its current approved levels.
The head of Boeing Commercial Airplanes told reporters Sunday that the company is evaluating additional production increases for the 737 MAX after receiving approval from federal regulators in May to manufacture up to 47 aircraft per month.
The Federal Aviation Administration had placed an extraordinary cap on Boeing’s production following a 2024 mid-air safety incident that exposed serious quality and safety problems throughout the company’s manufacturing operations.
“We’re using the safety management system and our safety risk assessment on when we’re stable and ready to go to the next rate,” Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Stephanie Pope said during a media roundtable held ahead of the Farnborough Airshow in London.
“I’ve got the team focused on stabilising at 47. Once we get to 47, we’ll go to 52, and then we’ll just keep studying that,” she added.
Pope made clear that Boeing’s presence at the international airshow is centered on improving manufacturing — “not order announcement,” as she put it.
“Backlog is incredibly strong. Demand is not our issue. If we announce some orders along the way, we’ll celebrate with our customers based on if they want to do that,” Pope said.
Rather than drumming up new business, she said Boeing’s main goal at the biennial industry gathering — which draws top executives from across the global aviation sector — is to engage with customers and suppliers.
“We’re going to understand what their challenges are, and then we’re going to update them on our products,” Pope said.
