Boeing Faces Wing Production Lag, Hitting 737 MAX Output Goals

Boeing’s plan to boost 737 MAX production to 52 aircraft a month—and eventually 63—has stalled because wing manufacturing at its Renton, Washington, plant is lagging. CEO Kelly Ortberg said on September 16 that the company is working to stabilize output at 47 planes a month, but the move from the current 42‑plane pace has taken longer than expected, Reuters reported. The Renton wing line has become the main bottleneck, delaying the company’s ability to meet its short‑term target of 52 per month. If the slowdown continues, Boeing may miss the projected ramp‑up, which could postpone deliveries to airlines and affect the company’s production schedule for the next year. The company is actively addressing the issue, but the exact timeline for resuming the planned increase remains uncertain.