Boeing Restarts 737 MAX Production, Tackles 4,200 Order Backlog

Boeing has resumed production of its 737 MAX jetliner nearly a month after a seven-week machinists' strike disrupted operations. The restart, confirmed by multiple sources, is critical to the company's recovery as it seeks to address an extensive backlog of 4,200 orders. The 737 MAX, Boeing’s top revenue-generating aircraft, plays a pivotal role in meeting rising global demand for air travel.

“Our team has worked methodically to restart factory operations in the Pacific Northwest. We have now resumed 737 production in our Renton factory, with our Everett programs on plan to follow in the days ahead,” Boeing stated.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) imposed a production cap of 38 planes per month in January following a safety incident involving an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9. A door panel missing four bolts detached mid-flight, raising regulatory concerns. Mike Whitaker, FAA Administrator, noted last week that production had not yet resumed but acknowledged Boeing’s plans to restart later in December.

Boeing has faced significant delays in achieving its targeted production rate of 56 planes per month, hindered by challenges such as two fatal crashes, supply chain disruptions, and heightened regulatory scrutiny. Analysts predict an average production rate of 29 planes per month in 2025.

“We used our Safety Management System to create program-specific plans to identify, evaluate, and mitigate potential risks at each stage of the restart,” the company said. Preparations included training, certification, ensuring the readiness of parts and tools, and completing work on inventory planes.

Despite these efforts, the impact of the machinists' strike and FAA restrictions has been severe. Boeing reported delivering only 13 aircraft in November, a stark contrast to the 33 delivered in September. 

Boeing recently announced workforce reductions during the strike and proceeded with plans to cut 10% of its workforce. A Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) filed in Washington state on Monday detailed layoffs of approximately 400 employees in February.

The prolonged strike and production delays have strained Boeing’s finances, forcing the company to raise funds in equity markets to sustain operations.