BOEING CO · News & developments
Internal Wing Bottlenecks at Renton Delay Boeing's 737 MAX Stabilization at 47 Jets Monthly
Boeing is taking longer than expected to stabilize 737 MAX production at 47 aircraft per month, with CEO Kelly Ortberg identifying the company's own wing manufacturing operation in Renton as the principal constraint. While external suppliers such as CFM International for LEAP-1B engines are meeting current requirements, Boeing now plans to reach a monthly rate of 52 aircraft in 2027 after addressing the wing bottleneck and qualifying its new Everett line.
Why this matters
For months, supply chain shortages took the blame for single-aisle manufacturing pauses, but the constraint has shifted back inside Boeing's own four walls. Failing to maintain 47 narrowbodies a month pushes the operational leverage and cash release from Boeing's inventory unwind deeper into 2027. The delay also raises the stakes for the incoming Everett North Line, which must be certified on four trial aircraft before the company can accommodate the longer MAX 10 variant and expand single-aisle throughput toward 52 jets per month.