Subscriber Update – Boeing 737 Production and Deliveries

We track first flights as a production surrogate and Boeing deliveries daily for our analytical work.  So far, March is not shaping up to be a stellar delivery month for Boeing, as rework will likely be required for the aircraft that have been produced but not yet delivered.  This subscriber update on production and deliveries is insightful as it reflects the current situation at Boeing.

Through March 11th, we show 16 first flights for a 737 MAX. That means that Boeing

is still producing aircraft at a normal rate, and the wiring issue hasn’t slowed the line. Tracking deliveries, only 3 MAX aircraft were delivered in March, meaning Boeing has 13 finished airplanes in inventory this month, likely awaiting a wiring repair.

Over the years, there have been several wiring issues with commercial aircraft, including issues at Boeing.  Typically, if there is a risk of chafing a wire from contact with another part, the part is modified so that sharp edges cannot damage the wiring.  In most situations, these have been short-term issues that have been solved relatively easily, once the root cause is found and corrected.

A question to be asked is whether this quality issue will negatively impact Boeing’s ability to further increase production to 47 later this year.  If all of the metrics require being “in the green” for six consecutive months, this incident could reset the time frame for future production increases.  While Boeing continues to provide no guidance on changes for 2026, there may be an impact if the problem is not short-lived.