Boeing Allowed to Increase 737 Max Production

Manufacturer was capped at 38 aircraft per month after 2024 door plug blowout.

Zach Vasile

Monday, October 20, 2025 at 12:49 PM ET

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Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Boeing 737 Max assembly line [Credit: Boeing]

Key Takeaways:

The FAA has authorized Boeing to increase its 737 Max production rate from 38 to 42 aircraft per month, marking a significant victory for the manufacturer.
This decision follows a production cap imposed in January 2024 after a door plug failed on an Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9, an incident for which the NTSB assigned responsibility to Boeing for inadequate training and oversight.
The FAA approved the modest increase after conducting extensive safety reviews of Boeing's production lines to ensure the change could be made safely.

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Boeing on Friday won permission to up its production of 737 Max aircraft to 42 jets per month, a significant victory for the manufacturer as it works to assuage concerns about the safety and reliability of its most-ordered type.

The FAA imposed a 38 aircraft-per-month cap on Boeing shortly after a door plug failed on a 737 Max 9 operated by Alaska Airlines in January 2024. The agency also increased its oversight of Boeing’s facilities.