Boeing delivers 55 planes in September, on track for most in a year since 2018

North America
Source: CNBCPublished: 10/14/2025, 14:20:15 EDT
Boeing
737 Max
Aircraft Deliveries
Production Recovery
Aerospace Manufacturing
Boeing 737 Max planes sit at the airport in Renton, Washington.

News Summary

Boeing delivered 55 aircraft in September 2025, putting it on track for its best annual delivery performance since 2018, indicating production stabilization. Forty of these deliveries were 737 Max jets, with key customers including Ryanair, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, China Southern, and leasing firm AerCap. In the first nine months of 2025, Boeing delivered 440 airplanes, while rival Airbus delivered 507 during the same period. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg stated that the company expects the 737 Max production rate to reach 42 aircraft per month by the end of the year, an increase from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-imposed cap of 38 per month following a door plug blowout incident in January 2024. Additionally, Boeing reported net orders of 48 aircraft in September, including 64 787 Dreamliners (50 for Turkish Airlines) and 30 737s for Norwegian Airlines.

Background

Boeing's aircraft production and deliveries have faced significant challenges since 2018, particularly after two fatal 737 Max crashes led to a global grounding of the aircraft and intense scrutiny. In January 2024, a near-catastrophic door plug blowout on a 737 Max further exacerbated Boeing's quality control issues, prompting the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to impose a production cap of 38 737 Maxes per month. These events have severely impacted Boeing's reputation, financial performance, and market share, leading to a prolonged effort to restore production stability and customer trust.

In-Depth AI Insights

What is the true significance of Boeing's improved delivery numbers, particularly concerning the 737 Max? While seemingly positive, these delivery figures reflect production "stabilization" rather than aggressive "accelerated growth." * The increase in the monthly production target from 38 to 42 units is still well below pre-crash levels and contingent on FAA approval, highlighting ongoing stringent regulatory oversight. This suggests Boeing's recovery trajectory remains cautious and subject to external constraints. * Compared to Airbus's deliveries in the same period, Boeing still lags significantly, indicating persistent challenges in market share and fulfilling existing orders. How might the FAA's continued scrutiny and production caps impact Boeing's long-term competitive positioning against Airbus? The FAA's production cap, even if raised to 42, signals a fundamental shift towards a stricter regulatory stance on Boeing's quality control and production processes. * This could limit Boeing's ability to rapidly scale production to meet market demand, allowing Airbus to capture a larger share of new orders and solidify its dominant position in the global commercial aircraft duopoly. * For investors, this implies potentially higher capital expenditure for quality control, slower throughput, and sustained pressure on market share, rather than a quick return to historical dominance. Beyond the delivery figures, what do the September net orders, especially for the 787 Dreamliner, reveal about Boeing's strategic health? While 737 Max production remains a focal point, the strong orders for 64 787 Dreamliners (including a significant order from Turkish Airlines) demonstrate robust demand for Boeing's wide-body jets. * This alleviates investor concerns about Boeing's over-reliance on the 737 Max and provides a diversified revenue stream, especially as long-haul travel demand recovers. * However, if wide-body production also becomes constrained by supply chain or quality issues, this positive signal could be undermined. Investors should monitor wide-body delivery progress and margins to fully assess Boeing's overall health.