‍DALLAS – The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced on Friday, October 17, that it would permit Boeing to increase production of the 737 MAX aircraft. 

The aircraft manufacturer was being allowed to produce 38 of these aircraft per month. However, the new cap will allow for 42 of the 737 variant to be made. 

This is the first time the restriction has been eased since it was imposed after an incident involving an aircraft door blowing off an Alaska Airlines (AS) 737-9 in January last year.  

The FAA probe into the incident in January 2024 revealed production safety and quality lapses across Boeing’s operations. Boeing continues to face regulatory and legal setbacks from this incident.

Easing Of Boeing 737 Max Production Cap

This decision is indeed good news not only for Boeing but also for air service operators, who are dealing with aircraft shortages.

"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.

The move follows safety reviews of Boeing’s production lines. The FAA said that its safety inspectors had conducted reviews of Boeing's production lines to ensure that a production rate increase could be carried out safely.  

A Financial Boost 

This revision is seen as a step forward in Boeing’s efforts to restore financial stability and address scrutiny over its manufacturing quality. 

Increasing production of the popular narrow-body jet is key to restoring Boeing’s finances after suffering various setbacks in recent years, leaving the company in debt.

Following the announcement of the eased production cap, Boeing’s shares rose 1.2% in after-hours trading.