How Many 737 MAX Jets Boeing Actually Plans To Produce Monthly By 2027

Published Sep 12, 2026, 5:00 PM EDT Journalist - Steven has a varied background in communications, and it was this passion for writing combined with his in-depth knowledge of the aviation industry that led him to Simple Flying. A keen linguist, he also has experience in translation and interpreting. Based in Palma, Spain Boeing’s answer to the question of how many Boeing Boeing 737 MAX aircraft it plans to produce each month by 2027 is becoming clearer. After years of production disruption, regulatory scrutiny, and quality-control problems, the company is working through a carefully staged recovery expected to raise monthly output from 42 aircraft to 47 and then to 52. That 52-aircraft monthly rate is the important 2027 target, although it is not the end of Boeing’s ambitions for its best-selling narrowbody. The US manufacturer ultimately wants to reach 63 aircraft per month, while a possible 70-aircraft rate is being studied, making the next few years a test of how quickly Boeing can increase output without repeating the production problems that previously brought the program under intense regulatory oversight. The first step in Boeing’s production plan is a move from 42 737 MAX aircraft per month to 47. During the first quarter of 2026, the manufacturer was still producing 42 aircraft per month, but Boeing said it had received the go-ahead from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to increase the rate. By May, its CEO, Kelly Ortberg, confirmed that Boeing had passed the required review and was moving toward 47 aircraft per month. Boeing did not expect the transition to happen instantly, however, because increasing a final assembly line by five aircraft per month involves considerably more than simply scheduling additional work. The manufacturer needed to stabilize the factory, suppliers, and quality metrics at the higher rate, and Ortberg said in May that Boeing expected to reach the 47-aircraft level within a couple of months. That cautious approach reflects the scrutiny surrounding the 737 MAX program since early 2024. The FAA's involvement remains particularly important because the agency previously imposed a production cap following the Alaska Airlines door plug incident on a Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft in January 2024. Boeing’s subsequent recovery has therefore been tied not simply to how many aircraft the factories can physically assemble, but also to whether the company can demonstrate that higher production rates are compatible with acceptable safety and quality performance. The move to 47 is therefore an important operational milestone, not just a numerical increase. Why 52 Aircraft Matters For 2027 Once Boeing has stabilized at 47 aircraft per month, the next major target is 52, which the company expects to reach in early 2027. That number is significant because it represents a return to a production level Boeing had previously achieved before the 737 MAX grounding, while also marking the point at which the company begins relying more heavily on its new production infrastructure. Boeing has indicated that the next increase is targeted for early 2027. The increase will not come entirely from pushing the existing Renton operation harder. Boeing has been developing a fourth 737 MAX production line at its Everett, Washington, facility, known as the North Line, specifically to provide additional capacity. The company said Renton is being stabilized at 47 aircraft per month, while the North Line will take on the additional production needed to reach 52 and eventually support even higher rates. Boeing’s second-quarter filing confirms that the manufacturer is planning production increases beyond 47 and that low-rate production began on the new line in July 2026. Crucially, the filing also states that the North Line must receive production certification from the Federal Aviation Administration before it can deliver its first aircraft, meaning the physical existence of the new assembly line does not automatically translate into additional customer deliveries. The North Line Changes The Production Equation The North Line is significant for Boeing because it is the first place outside Renton to build Boeing 737 family aircraft in more than 50 years. The manufacturer loaded the first aircraft onto the new line on July 6, 2026, marking a major change for a program concentrated at Renton since 1970. Boeing describes the new facility as a roughly $1 billion investment designed to strengthen production capacity and provide greater stability as demand continues. The new line is expected to build the Boeing 737-8, Boeing 737-9 and Boeing 737-10, with the largest 737 MAX variant receiving particular attention as Boeing develops the operation. The first aircraft placed on the line was a 737 MAX 10 intended for WestJet, although the line is initially operating at a low rate while Boeing completes the regulatory and production work necessary to establish it as a dependable part of the overall manufacturing system. The current largest operators of the Boeing 737 MAX, according to the latest data from ch-aviation, are outlined in the table below: Ranking Airline Boeing 737 MAX 8 Boeing 737 MAX 8 200 Boeing 737 MAX 9 Total 1 Southwest Airlines 300 - - 300 2 United Airlines 123 - 120 243 3 Ryanair - 206 - 206 4 Alaska Airlines 14 - 80 94 5 American Airlines 89 - - 89 That gradual approach explains why the 52-aircraft target is more realistic for 2027 than an immediate jump to a much higher number. Industry analysis indicates that the North Line is expected to start slowly and then build towards roughly five aircraft per month as it matures, effectively adding the capacity Boeing needs without forcing Renton beyond the level the company considers sustainable under its current safety and quality processes. Boeing Ultimately Wants 63 Per Month Although 52 aircraft per month is the clearest target for 2027, Boeing’s longer-term ambition is considerably higher. Ortberg has said the manufacturer would like to reach a 63-aircraft monthly rate on the 737 MAX, arguing that the commercial market can support that level of production. The target would represent a substantial increase to over 52 and would put Boeing much closer to the production scale that Airbus is pursuing with its competing Airbus A320 family. Getting to 63 aircraft, however, is not simply a matter of hiring more workers or extending the capability of the North Line. Boeing has emphasized the importance of supply-chain resilience, factory performance and quality metrics, while suppliers must also be capable of consistently delivering the necessary structures, systems, engines and other components. Ortberg has acknowledged that the company needs to put both itself and its supply chain in a position to sustain the higher rate before committing. There is also an important distinction between a theoretical manufacturing capability and a production rate Boeing can maintain month after month. The manufacturer has previously produced the 737 at higher rates, with Renton having reached levels that would now be considered aggressive under Boeing’s current operating model. The new strategy instead centers on multiple assembly lines and stronger process control, allowing the manufacturer to pursue growth without relying on a single facility to absorb the entire increase. A 70-Per-Month Rate Is Being Studied Boeing’s ambitions do not necessarily stop at 63 aircraft per month. In June, the company confirmed that it was studying the possibility of raising 737 production to 70 aircraft per month, although Ortberg made clear that this was a study rather than a firm production commitment. He said 63 was Boeing’s current plan while the manufacturer examined its constraints and the resilience of its supply chain. A 70-aircraft monthly rate would be a remarkable level for Boeing’s narrowbody program, amounting to 840 aircraft annually if sustained for a full year. It would also bring Boeing much closer to Airbus’ ambitious plans for A320 family production, creating a much more intense manufacturing race between the two largest commercial aircraft manufacturers. For Boeing, though, the question is less about matching Airbus on paper and more about whether the company can achieve higher output without sacrificing quality. That caution is particularly relevant because Boeing’s production problems were not caused by a lack of demand. The manufacturer has a huge 737 backlog, with thousands of aircraft still awaiting delivery, meaning the market provides plenty of work for the factories. The challenge is execution: Boeing must increase supplier capacity, maintain quality, complete regulatory approvals, and ensure each additional production step remains sustainable rather than creating another accumulation of unfinished aircraft. Demand Is Not The Limiting Factor The size of Boeing’s 737 MAX backlog makes the production target easier to understand. The company has roughly 4,872 MAX-family aircraft in its backlog under the broader count used in recent planning discussions, leaving Boeing with years of production already supported by customer commitments. Its second-quarter filing separately reported 4,397 undelivered 737 aircraft under firm orders as of June 30, illustrating the scale of the order book even before considering subsequent changes. That backlog means Boeing does not need to find hundreds of new customers simply to justify moving towards 52 aircraft per month. The company’s own leadership has repeatedly described the situation as an execution challenge, with Ortberg emphasizing that Boeing already knows which airplanes customers want and needs to concentrate on building them reliably. Higher rates therefore could improve Boeing Commercial Airplanes’ financial performance by spreading fixed costs across more deliveries. The critical question heading into 2027 will consequently be whether Boeing can make 52 aircraft per month a dependable production rate rather than a temporary peak. If Renton remains stable at 47, the North Line gains experience and suppliers keep pace, the manufacturer should have the industrial foundation needed for the increase. The 2027 target is therefore best understood as the next stage of a longer recovery, with 52 aircraft per month serving as the bridge between Boeing’s current stabilized output and its eventual ambitions for 63 or potentially even 70.