Renton, Washington, 2 April - Boeing, the American aerospace giant, has reportedly slowed production of its 737 MAX jets to 31 per month, down from a brief high of 38, due to persistent issues with wing systems installation, according to a detailed report by The Air Current, an aviation news outlet. This development marks a setback for the company as it strives to stabilize and increase the output of its best-selling narrow-body aircraft amid ongoing scrutiny from regulators and customers alike. The reduction in production pace, which occurred after a spike in unfinished assembly tasks, underscores the challenges Boeing faces in its efforts to recover from a tumultuous period marked by quality concerns and a federally imposed production cap.
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The Air Current report, published on April 1, 2025, highlights that Boeing’s factory in Renton, Washington, briefly achieved a production rate of 38 jets per month in February, a milestone that aligned with the company’s goal to ramp up output to at least that level by the end of 2025. However, this progress was short-lived. The surge in production revealed a bottleneck in the wing systems installation process, where the number of incomplete tasks, referred to as "jobs behind schedule," escalated sharply. To prevent further disruption to the assembly line, Boeing scaled back to 31 jets per month, a rate it had maintained before the February increase. The issues persisted into March, prompting the company to slow certain earlier stages of wing production to allow workers to address the backlog.
This production adjustment comes as Boeing operates under a cap set by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which limits 737 MAX output to 38 per month. The restriction was imposed in January 2024 following a mid-air door plug blowout on an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9, an incident that reignited concerns about the aircraft’s manufacturing quality. The FAA has since maintained that it will not lift the cap or approve additional production lines until Boeing resolves its quality control issues. The company has been working to demonstrate production stability and compliance with regulatory standards, with plans to eventually push beyond 38 jets per month to 42, pending approval. However, the wing systems bottleneck suggests that achieving this target remains a complex endeavor. Boeing’s efforts to address the situation involve reallocating resources within the Renton facility, pulling in additional support from across the factory to tackle the backlog. The Air Current report notes that the company is taking a methodical approach, prioritizing production stability and quality over rapid increases in output. A Boeing spokesperson emphasized this focus, stating that the 737 program has not officially reached the 38-per-month rate in 2025 and has not reduced its rate, contradicting claims of a significant drop. Instead, the adjustment reflects a strategic pause to manage the assembly line’s workflow.
The 737 MAX, a critical revenue driver for Boeing, has faced intense scrutiny since two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019 led to a global grounding. The subsequent return to service in late 2020, coupled with the 2024 Alaska Airlines incident, has kept the spotlight on Boeing’s manufacturing processes. Customers like Ryanair, one of the largest operators of the 737 MAX, have expressed cautious optimism about delivery schedules, with CEO Michael O’Leary indicating last week that Boeing produced 32 jets in March and aims to stabilize at 38 by the end of April. However, the wing systems' challenges could delay these timelines, potentially impacting airline planning as demand for air travel continues to rebound. Boeing’s broader strategy includes restoring confidence in its production system while meeting financial goals tied to higher output. The company has described its 2025 ramp-up plan as aggressive, aiming to achieve positive cash flow by hitting key production milestones. Yet, the current setback illustrates the fragility of this recovery. The FAA’s ongoing oversight, including increased presence at Boeing facilities and a comprehensive audit completed in 2024, adds further pressure to resolve these issues swiftly. As Boeing navigates this latest hurdle, its ability to balance quality, stability, and growth will be critical to regaining trust and meeting the expectations of regulators, customers, and investors alike.