Boeing Delivers 45 Jets in April, Doubling Output vs. Last Year

Boeing delivered 45 commercial jets in April, nearly double the number from the same month last year. According to Reuters, the US planemaker accelerated deliveries to address debt from recent crises and persistent production challenges.

Since the start of 2025, Boeing has maintained  a steady delivery rate of around 40 jets per month, totaling 175 aircraft as of April. The company continues to recover from setbacks, including quality control issues with its 737 MAX in early 2024 and a worker strike that caused estimated losses of US$5.5 billion. Financial pressures worsened with the imposition of international tariffs.

Two of the April deliveries were originally intended for Chinese airlines: a 777 freighter for CES Leasing Corp and a 737 MAX for China Southern. However, escalating trade tensions led Beijing to halt Boeing deliveries. Three aircraft at Boeing's Zhoushan facility were in final assembly, including interior installations and painting, when the steep tariffs introduced during the Trump administration forced their return to the United States.

Chinese carriers account for approximately 10% of Boeing’s commercial backlog. CEO Kelly Ortberg noted plans to deliver 50 jets to China. However, Bloomberg reported that China lifted its delivery ban after a temporary 90-day tariff truce was negotiated. As part of the agreement, US tariffs dropped from 145% to 30%, and China reduced aerospace-related tariffs from 125% to 10%, with exemptions for certain components.

Of the 30 aircraft built before 2023 that remain undelivered, 25 are scheduled for Chinese carriers.

Boeing also received eight new orders in April, with momentum carrying into May. International Airlines Group (IAG), parent company of British Airways, ordered 32 Boeing 787-10 aircraft following a UK–US trade truce that lifted tariffs on aircraft, automobiles, and other goods. Bloomberg further reported that Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund plans to order 30 Boeing 737 MAX jets.