Boeing shares fell 10.7% at the close on Tuesday after the manufacturer pushed back its 737 MAX production ramp-up, raising concerns about the pace of its financial recovery. Boeing now expects to stabilise output at 47 aircraft per month during 2027 and reach 52 per month only in the second half of that year, while acknowledging that it will miss its target of delivering 500 737-family aircraft in 2026.
The revised outlook was presented during Boeing’s third-quarter earnings call. The manufacturer delivered 124 737 MAX aircraft in the quarter, equivalent to an average of roughly 41 per month, and 367 during the first nine months of the year. The 737 programme is currently operating below the intended 47-aircraft rate, which Boeing had previously expected to stabilise sooner.
Chief executive Kelly Ortberg identified wing production as the main constraint, alongside continuing production-flow problems affecting fuselage output in Wichita, Kansas. Boeing is also preparing its fourth 737 line, the North Line in Everett, Washington, for the eventual increase to 52 aircraft per month, but the line requires separate production certification from the Federal Aviation Administration. Final-assembly rework has improved by 40% since the beginning of 2025, although management is prioritising a controlled ramp-up over reaching a specific monthly rate quickly.
The delay limits Boeing’s ability to convert its large 737 MAX backlog into deliveries and cash flow as it competes with Airbus in the narrow-body market. The share-price decline came despite Boeing reporting a narrower year-to-date loss than in the comparable period of 2025.