Boeing’s 737 MAX deliveries fall to lowest monthly total since November 2025

Boeing delivered 32 of its 737 MAX aircraft in October, its lowest monthly total since November 2025, according to The Seattle Times.

The slowdown comes as the company prepares to reduce its commercial airplane workforce by about 5% and scale back planned production increases.

Boeing executives said in October that the company would miss its goal of delivering 500 MAX aircraft in 2026 as it worked to stabilize production at 47 planes a month.

Boeing’s Renton wing shop has struggled to keep up with the planned production increase. CEO Kelly Ortberg said in September that it could not keep pace with the planned increase from 42 to 47 MAX aircraft a month, delaying the production ramp-up.

Despite those challenges, Boeing’s deliveries remain ahead of last year’s pace. Through October, the company delivered 395 MAX aircraft, 31 more than during the same period in 2025. Total commercial aircraft deliveries also rose, reaching 524 compared with 493 a year earlier, according to The Seattle Times.

October’s MAX total, however, marked a decline after three consecutive monthly increases. Boeing delivered 39 in July, 41 in August and 43 in September.

Its busiest month for MAX deliveries this year was May, when it handed over 51 aircraft. Earlier machining problems that scratched some wires contributed to lower totals of 33 in March and 34 in April.

Deliveries and factory production are separate measures. Some aircraft need further work before customers can accept them, so a month’s delivery total does not necessarily show how many planes Boeing built during that period.

Boeing to cut commercial airplane workforce by about 5% amid production setbacks

Boeing confirmed to its employees on Monday that the company would cut its commercial airplane workforce by roughly 5% and reduce its commercial airplane production.

Stephanie Pope, the head of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, wrote to employees in an email detailing that the workforce reduction would include both layoffs and attrition, according to an email obtained by The Seattle Times.

As of December 2025, Boeing had approximately 182,000 employees, though it remains unclear how many positions would be impacted by the 5% cut.

Pope detailed how Boeing intended to “reset the pace of [its] production rate ramps” in an effort to provide “time to achieve stability” with its factories and suppliers.

“Adjusting our production schedules and reducing aircraft output puts us in an overstaffed position,” Pope stated, according to The Seattle Times. “Unfortunately, that means we need to align our staffing levels to our revised business plans.”

Boeing stock tumbles as investors react to third-quarter losses

Boeing shares had their worst day in more than 18 months on Oct. 27 after the company reported a bigger-than-expected third-quarter loss and said it would miss its 737 production and delivery targets this year.

The stock fell 10.7%, closing at $168.07. That was the stock’s lowest level since April 2025, according to Reuters.

Boeing lost $116 million, or 26 cents a share, in the three months ending Sept. 30, according to the company. Excluding certain costs, Boeing reported what it calls a core loss of 34 cents a share. Analysts surveyed by LSEG had expected a loss of 21 cents, according to CNBC. Revenue rose 4% from a year earlier to $24.19 billion.

737 production is slower than promised

The bigger worry for investors was the timeline. CEO Kelly Ortberg said Boeing will miss its 737 production and delivery targets for 2026. Boeing said the 737 program is still working toward a steady rate of 47 planes a month, and Reuters reported that the company now expects to get there in early 2027.

On the earnings call, Ortberg said Boeing is aiming for 52 planes a month in the second half of 2027, according to CNBC. He has blamed the slowdown on the pace of wing production.

“I know everybody wants us to go faster, but we’re going to do it right,” Ortberg told CNBC.

Production matters for Boeing’s recovery because airlines pay most of a plane’s price when it’s delivered, according to CNBC. Boeing delivered 161 commercial airplanes in the quarter, one more than a year earlier, according to the company.

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