Boeing’s June Jet Deliveries Rise 27% Despite Safety Concerns

Boeing delivered 60 commercial aircraft in June 2025, a 27% year-over-year increase and its highest monthly total since early 2024. The company confirmed that eight of those jets were delivered to Chinese customers—its first such deliveries since Beijing lifted an import ban on Boeing aircraft in April.

Of the June deliveries to China, five were 737 MAX jets and three were widebody aircraft—one 787 Dreamliner and two 777 freighters—delivered to various Chinese airlines. Boeing’s renewed access to the Chinese market follows a temporary agreement between the U.S. and China in May to ease mutual tariffs.

Boeing’s total June deliveries included 42 737 MAX aircraft, nine 787 Dreamliners, four 777 freighters, and five 767s. Of the 767s, three will be completed as KC-46 aerial refueling tankers by Boeing’s defense division. Southwest Airlines received 10 of the 737 MAX aircraft.

In a statement, Boeing said its commercial airplane deliveries represent “a critical financial milestone,” as manufacturers typically receive the bulk of payment at the time of delivery. The strong June performance marks a significant step in Boeing’s broader recovery, as the company continues efforts to stabilize operations and address lingering production and regulatory challenges.

In terms of new business, Boeing booked 116 gross orders in June—54 for the 737 MAX and 62 for the 787 Dreamliner. Alaska Airlines ordered 12 737 MAXs, while British Airways added 32 787s to its backlog. However, Singapore Airlines canceled three 737 MAX orders during the same period.

June's total order volume represented a decline from May, which Boeing previously described as its sixth-best month historically for order activity. Despite the slowdown, the company recorded 668 gross orders in the first half of 2025, or 625 net orders after accounting for cancellations and conversions.

European rival Airbus also delivered 60 aircraft in June, matching Boeing’s output. According to aviation data provider Cirium, Airbus delivered 41 A320 and A321 narrowbody jets, 12 A220 regional jets, and seven widebody aircraft—including three A330s and four A350s.

Boeing’s Delivery Recovery Overshadowed by New Safety Concerns

While June deliveries and order activity marked a positive turn, Boeing’s recovery was overshadowed by renewed safety concerns. On June 12, an Air India 787 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, resulting in over 240 fatalities—the first fatal incident involving the 787 platform since it entered service in 2011.

The crash reignited scrutiny of Boeing’s safety practices, especially given the lingering controversy surrounding the 737 MAX, which was previously grounded worldwide after two crashes in 2018 and 2019 that killed 346 people. The Air India incident occurred just as confidence in Boeing was beginning to return, following signs of operational improvement under new CEO Kelly Ortberg.

Boeing’s shares fell nearly 5% to US$203.75 in the wake of the crash, reflecting shaken investor sentiment. The timing also clouded Boeing’s presence at the 2025 Paris Air Show. While the company officially reported 41 orders and four options during the event, all had been finalized months earlier and were only reconfirmed publicly for visibility. No new orders were secured at the show.

The crash dealt a major setback to Boeing’s efforts to restore trust and momentum. It also dampened the impact of a landmark US$96 billion deal with Qatar announced in May for 787 and 777X aircraft—the largest widebody order in Boeing’s history.