Boeing 787 Comeback Accelerates

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is surging back across the aviation industry thanks to a strong 2026 thus far.

Analysts at UBS say the planemaker has gained momentum after what is typically viewed as a slower end to the calendar year, through December 2025.

Based on early forecasts, the manufacturer has been shipping the 787 at a higher rate after 12 months of stability. That stability has now enabled the business to increase overall output as it moves into the new year.

That stability enabled Boeing to reach a production rate of around 7 units per month. This figure took time to reach, given that the program has experienced several quality lapses in the last half-decade, which have either suspended production or forced the rates to drop considerably.

For Boeing, one of the biggest obstacles is not just the process of raising production rates, but more importantly, the continued effort to work through the lengthy backlog, which continues to grow as the years pass, with higher orders than deliveries, pushing up inventory.

With the uptick in not just 787 flights readying for delivery but also the Dreamlifter becoming more active, this oversized jet, known for aiding production across the Dreamliner, is renewing optimism that, for the manufacturer, things are moving in the right direction.

What’s Next For The 787?

In 2026, Boeing will strive to reach a monthly production rate of eight units, another step up but still just a fraction of the end goals the planemaker has for the widebody series.

In the long term, Boeing would like to increase the monthly production rate to 14 units. It is confident it can reach the previous maximum level; however, that still wouldn’t be the peak.

Looking beyond 14 units per month, Boeing has outlined targets to reach 16 jets per month. This would represent a record-breaking output level for the Charleston plant and the program, and will require significant investment in not just facilities but culture to make it possible.

Boeing is already making inroads in both of these areas, with the business breaking ground on site expansion in South Carolina in early November 2025, with construction involving 6.2 million hours and more than 2,500 people.

The expansion includes a new final assembly building, similar in size to the current building at 1.2 million square feet, to provide another state-of-the-art production line capable of increasing output as demand for planes increases, and to bring more office space for executives and more working space.

Bottom Line

Early analysis from UBS shows that Boeing has been making further inroads to start 2026 positively, with the 787 Dreamliner deliveries continuing to stabilise and grow, pointing towards a strong year ahead.

While the manufacturer will still face obstacles and many unknowns after years of turbulence across the program, as orders continue to come in thick and fast for the program, Boeing will need to ensure its investments begin paying off to meet this, from cultural to safety, reflected on the production floor alongside its relationship with suppliers.

Making inroads into the inventory that has forced airlines to delay the delivery of their new aircraft will also be fundamentally essential to aid brand image and lessen the financial pressure and customer frustrations that have built over the last half-decade.