Boeing Studies 70-Per-Month 737 MAX Production Rate

The Boeing Company (BA) is evaluating the feasibility of increasing Boeing 737 MAX production to a record 70 aircraft per month, signaling a potential aggressive ramp-up following the lifting of regulatory caps.

During a June 5, 2026, interview on CNBC, Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg confirmed the manufacturer is studying the 70-jet monthly rate to assess supply chain resilience and identify potential constraints. According to Reuters, this target would represent the highest production rate in the history of the 737 program and position Boeing closer to the output goals of European rival Airbus SE.

Transitioning production rates and new Everett facility

Boeing is currently in the process of increasing its monthly Boeing 737 MAX output from 42 to 47 aircraft. This transition follows a May 27, 2026, announcement that the manufacturer passed a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) capstone review. The FAA previously capped production at 38 jets per month in January 2024 following a midair door-plug blowout incident on an Alaska Airlines (AS) Boeing 737 MAX 9 on January 5, 2024.

To support the increased volume, Boeing will open a fourth final assembly line in Everett, Washington, on July 6, 2026. Ortberg described the new facility as a replica of the existing Renton, Washington, production lines.

“We’ll be loading our first airplane on July 6, so just about a month from now, we’ll be bringing that line alive,” Ortberg stated, according to Quartz.

The Everett line will initially focus on the Boeing 737 MAX 10 variant. Boeing is currently awaiting FAA certification for both the Boeing 737 MAX 7 and Boeing 737 MAX 10 models, which Ortberg anticipates receiving later this year, as reported by the Lynnwood Times.

Long-term targets and supply chain stability

While the 70-jet rate is under evaluation, Ortberg emphasized that the company’s official long-term production plan remains set at 63 aircraft per month. The Air Current originally reported the internal study regarding the 70-jet target on June 4, 2026, which Ortberg subsequently confirmed.

The manufacturer is prioritizing production stability before committing to further rate increases. Ortberg noted the company will not advance the rate until the production system demonstrates consistent stability.

A successful ramp-up to 70 aircraft per month would narrow the production gap with Airbus SE. The European manufacturer is currently targeting a production rate of 75 Airbus A320neo family aircraft per month by late 2027, though Reuters notes Airbus has faced its own supply chain constraints that have delayed this goal.

AirPro News analysis

Boeing’s public acknowledgment of a 70-aircraft monthly production study indicates growing confidence in its manufacturing recovery following the intense regulatory scrutiny of the past two years. Passing the FAA capstone review in May 2026 was a critical prerequisite for this operational shift. The gap between studying a rate and executing it remains substantial. The aerospace supply chain continues to experience localized bottlenecks. Boeing’s insistence that 63 aircraft per month remains the official target reflects a cautious approach, likely designed to manage expectations with both investors and the FAA while the new Everett line proves its operational capability.

Sources: Reuters