According to two sources with knowledge of the situation, Boeing intends to increase production of its most popular 737 narrowbody plane to a record of at least 57 per month by July 2025, indicating increased orders and the company’s recovery following the 737 MAX catastrophe.

The objective would satisfy the aircraft manufacturer’s unfulfilled objective from a number of years ago, which was derailed in 2019 when the MAX was grounded internationally after two fatal plane disasters.

As air travel and aircraft sales rebound, both Boeing and its European rival Airbus have set ambitious ramp-up objectives, with Airbus building in-demand single aisle jets even quicker than the American aircraft manufacturer.

The idea was outlined in the most recent revision of Boeing’s master schedule for suppliers, which the aircraft manufacturer reaffirmed in mid-September, according to sources who spoke to Reuters on the condition of anonymity because the document was not made available to the public.

There were no comments available from Boeing.

According to the timeline, 737 manufacturing would increase to 42 aircraft per month by the end of 2023, supporting comments made to Bloomberg TV in June by Stan Deal, head of Boeing Commercial Aeroplanes.

After that, the monthly production of 737 aircraft, which includes the 737 MAX and earlier models utilised for military aircraft, is anticipated to increase to 47.2 jets in June 2024 and 52.5 jets in December 2024 before stabilising at 57.7 aircraft per month in July 2025.

A previous version of the proposal, which Reuters reported on in April, called for the construction of 52 planes each month starting in January 2025.

Before the 737 MAX was grounded in 2019, Boeing was on track to meet its target of 57 737s per month with 52 produced each month.

For the years 2025–2026, Boeing has set a formal production target of 50 737s per month, which was announced by the firm last November at an investor day.

But as the business accumulates orders, such as a contract with Air India for over 200 MAXs secured this year, Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun hinted that a rate rise to 60 aircraft per month might be on the table.

“I would love to get to 60 deliveries and the market is there for it. There’s no doubt about it,” Calhoun said in a July earnings call.

The second half of 2024, the Boeing CEO continued, would be a crucial period for the business to demonstrate its ability to sustain its supply chain’s stability and its ramp-up plan.

“If we get through that well and we execute well, then we’ll be talking to all of you about 60 deliveries,” Calhoun said at the time. “But I don’t want to get ahead of myself.”

It is typical for supplier schedules to alter due to a variety of reasons, but doing so sends a crucial signal to the supply chain that enables smaller businesses to make the necessary investments, according to the sources.

In July, Airbus officials reiterated a closely monitored production target of 75 aircraft per month for its best-selling A320neo family in 2026, saying it was “progressing well.”

(Adapted from Invesitng.com)