Key points
- Output increased from 38 to 42 jets monthly
- Decision follows safety inspections after Alaska incident
- Boeing pledges safety and quality remain priorities
WASHINGTON: The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced on Friday that it will allow Boeing to increase production of its 737 Max aircraft, raising the monthly limit from 38 to 42 jets. The decision follows extensive safety inspections of Boeing’s manufacturing facilities after a door plug blew off an Alaska Airlines 737 Max in January 2024.
The FAA had imposed the production cap in the aftermath of that incident, though Boeing’s actual output had already fallen below the limit due to investigations and a machinists’ strike that halted production for nearly eight weeks. Boeing said it reached the previous cap during the second quarter of 2024 and sought approval to expand production, reports AP News.
A Boeing spokesperson said the company had followed a “disciplined process” to ensure readiness to increase production safely, adhering to safety standards agreed with the FAA. “We appreciate the work by our team, our suppliers and the FAA to ensure we are prepared to increase production with safety and quality at the forefront,” Boeing said in a statement.
US government shutdown
The FAA stressed that the change would not affect its oversight of Boeing’s manufacturing or efforts to strengthen the company’s safety culture, noting that its inspectors have continued working through the US government shutdown since 1 October.
Last month, the FAA also reinstated Boeing’s authority to conduct final safety inspections on 737 Max aircraft — a privilege suspended for over six years following two deadly crashes that killed 346 people.
Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg told a Senate committee in April that the company would not “ramp up production if the performance isn’t indicating a stable production system.” The Alaska Airlines incident was one of several safety violations between September 2023 and February 2024 that prompted the FAA to propose $3.1 million in fines against Boeing.
