Boeing Isn’t Producing 737 MAX Jets

In a major update to the 737 MAX, the aircraft so important to the Boeing portfolio hasn’t seen production resume following a major strike.

FAA head Mike Whitaker confirmed that the planemaker has yet to resume production but hopes that it can resume by the end of the month and, thus, the calendar year.

When measured by monthly output rates, the 737 MAX is the planemaker’s most important plane, and it is a major blow that production has not resumed, even following a strike that ended on November 4, 2024.

The strike action, which commenced in September, already had enough impact on Boeing’s ability to produce and deliver planes on time, and the reality of production still being in limbo is a huge problem.

Furthermore, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is still ensuring oversight over Boeing’s production processes and day-to-day business, thanks to the many quality issues that have occurred recently.

While Boeing wants to get back to the rate it has been permitted as soon as possible, the reality is that production will only slowly resume, and further output rate increases will be more likely to be discussed sometime in the early stages of 2025.

Whitaker, who spoke with Reuters, said that while Boeing isn’t producing 737 MAX jets, it is working on other fundamental areas that have long needed rectifying. Notably, this centres around the workforce, training and implementing new safety practices.

Moreover, there’s also a focus on the complicated supply chain, which continues to present hurdles. That supply chain has impacted many planemakers’ ability to deliver planes on time and certainly has affected Boeing even despite their internal issues.

Resuming 737 MAX production is vital for Boeing, especially considering its financial position, which has been affected in recent periods. That financial position has been questioned with an inability to resume 737 MAX production, leading to strain on resources if this continues.

It’s also important to understand that the FAA has barred production increases since the beginning of the year. The FAA argues that if Boeing were to increase production now or at any point in the last 10 months, it would’ve negated any focus on rebuilding itself as a company.

That production output rate reduction has also ultimately affected the planemaker’s finances and presented a continued challenge in day-to-day operations, affecting its finances and important airline customers.