LYNNWOOD — Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg announced Wednesday, May 27, that the company has passed the Federal Aviation Administration’s capstone review, clearing the way to raise monthly 737 MAX production from 42 to 47 aircraft—a move requiring hundreds of new jobs for the Boeing Everett factory.
“All of our key performance indicators have been very positive,” Ortberg said Wednesday during the Bernstein Strategic Decisions Conference. “We’re off and rolling now for the 47 a month rate, and we should be there in the next couple of months.”
The increase is the latest step in Boeing’s long recovery from strict FAA oversight that began after the January 5, 2024, midair door-plug blowout on an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9. As previously reported by the Lynnwood Times, the incident prompted the FAA to cap 737 MAX production at 38 planes per month in January 2024 to force the manufacturer to focus on safety and quality improvements.
Boeing worked through a series of regulatory performance gates under its Safety and Quality Plan. In September 2025 the FAA reinstated the company’s limited authority to issue airworthiness certificates. One month later, on Oct. 17, 2025, the FAA approved the first major production increase to 42 planes per month.
The capstone review completed last week marked the final major regulatory hurdle for the incremental step to 47 planes per month.
Ortberg shared on Wednesday that the 737-7 and -10 programs are in the final stages of achieving certification and expects that to happen this year. He noted the 737-10 is roughly 80% through its certification flight testing. On 777X, Ortberg expects the certification flight test program to be completed by the end of the year.
The 737 MAX is built primarily at Boeing’s Renton factory south of Seattle; however, Boeing is in the process of opening a new 737 MAX production line this summer in Everett where the company will manufacture 737s for the first time—the increase will support Boeing’s new “North Line.”
The new North Line will be capable of building all 737 MAX models and will initially focus on producing the 737-8, 737-9 and 737-10. Production in Everett will replicate the 737-build process used in the Renton factory, apart from the introduction of the 737 Wing Transport Tool, which will ferry partially completed wings for final assembly in Everett.
Since April 2026, Boeing has been hiring up to 140 factory workers a week to support higher production rates and new models, Jon Holden, IAM union General Vice President of Training and Apprenticeships told Reuters.
Author: Mario Lotmore
