Boeing Looking To Double 737 MAX Production By End Of Next Year

The US manufacturing powerhouse is determined to scale up. Boeing plans to ramp back up production of its 737 MAX production line from 27 jets to 47 jets per month by the end of 2023 while clearing an inventory of 335 737 MAXs that were grounded due to tragic incidents and need fixes before delivery.

Ramping up

Reuters reports that the plan is to get those 335 737 MAXs delivered by 2023's end. Before the tragedies, 737s were built at a rate of 52 per month. The 737 MAX is the continuation of the 737 production line that had its first jet, a -100, roll out on January 17, 1967. A recent Simple Flying article documented each mark of 737 from classic to Next Generation to MAX.

Over 23,000 737s of all models have been built since out of the Renton, Washington plant where the jets are assembled and fly out of Renton Airport over to Boeing Field to be factory tested & finished. Also at Boeing Field, as profiled recently, is the Museum of Flight complete with the first 737 safely on display in a covered area.

Back in demand

The Boeing type remains in healthy demand. As announced on March 2nd, Alaska Airlines adjusted its MAX order to add the MAX-8 and MAX-10 to have different sizes of the same general aircraft with the same common parts and training requirements to streamline costs. Alaska's Senior Vice President of Fleet, Finance, and Alliances, Nat Pieper even said in a statement, "We're excited to add these new 737 models to our fleet and continue our upgauging strategy, which maximizes our revenue opportunity with more seats while reducing unit costs. This announcement is a further step in our drive toward a single fleet featuring Boeing aircraft and CFM engines – we are very appreciative of their partnerships." Alaska Airlines has also been taking delivery of 737 MAXs for a while and one can even book a flight on one of them. One 737 MAX already has a special West Coast Wonders livery, pictured below:

Other airlines are also committed to the 737 MAX such as Korean Air, which just took delivery of its first with special safeguards taken, with 30 intended before 2028. Furthermore, Cayman Airways is starting a new route to Denver Simple Flying noted in January that Southwest Airlines wants no less than 271 MAX 7s and 135 MAX 8s. American Airlines has committed to 130 737 MAXs also. Leasers too, such as Air Lease Corporation who just ordered 50 MAX jets.

A significant task

With the 737 MAX in such high demand, Boeing's Renton, Washington, USA factory will be humming along for years to come. Over 4,800 737 MAX aircraft have been ordered as the Boeing 737 MAX is becoming more proven & trustworthy as a jetliner for the next few decades and logical evolution to the 737 design. The 737 MAX is designed around new larger CFM International LEAP engines that are more efficient and provide longer range plus a lower cost per passenger.