Boeing’s Outstanding May: Records 303 New Orders and Hits 737 MAX Production Target
Boeing closed May with one of the highest order figures in its history: 303 new orders, including the largest wide-body aircraft deal ever recorded by the company. The U.S. manufacturer also achieved its goal of producing 38 units of the 737 MAX, a target it had been striving to reach for over a year.
Regional and Airline Orders
The most notable agreement came from Qatar Airways, which signed a purchase for 130 Boeing 787s and 30 Boeing 777Xs, with options for 50 additional long-range aircraft. However, Boeing reported that only 120 of the 787s were added to its order backlog. The reason for the discrepancy was not specified.
This order was announced during President Donald Trump’s tour of the Middle East, where several major commercial deals were finalized.
A day earlier, AviLease, a Saudi Arabian leasing company, ordered 20 units of the 737-8 MAX. In the same region, Etihad Airways expressed its intent to acquire 28 wide-body aircraft, though this was not counted toward the monthly total as it was not a firm order.
From Canada, WestJet requested seven units of the 737 MAX but also canceled two previous orders. In total, three orders were canceled in May, resulting in a net gain of 300 new orders.
→ Boeing Aims to Complete 737 MAX 7 and MAX 10 Certification by Year-End
Increased Deliveries
In May, Boeing delivered 45 aircraft, marking the fifth consecutive month with over 40 deliveries. This figure is nearly double the 24 deliveries made in the same month of 2024.
Of the 45 aircraft delivered, 31 were 737 MAX models. Customers included United Airlines (7 units) and Alaska Airlines (4 units). Additionally, seven units of the 787 were delivered, three of which went to Qatar Airways. The company also delivered five 777 freighters, one 767 freighter, and one 737 NG converted into a P-8 Poseidon for the U.S. Navy.
Notably, none of the deliveries were destined for Chinese airlines, as they had halted acceptance of new Boeing aircraft since April due to trade tensions with the United States. However, following a temporary agreement to reduce tariffs, China lifted the ban, and a 737 MAX landed in the country on Monday—the first since the suspension.
Year-to-Date Figures and Comparison with Airbus
So far in 2025, Boeing has delivered 220 aircraft: 164 737 MAX models, three 737 NGs for P-8 conversions, 28 units of the 787, 16 of the 777, and nine of the 767.
Meanwhile, Airbus has delivered 243 aircraft in the same period, including 51 in May. It announced no new orders that month, though several deals are expected during the upcoming Paris Air Show starting this Monday.
Stable 737 MAX Production After Quality Issues
In May, Boeing successfully produced 38 units of the 737 MAX, meeting a target set over a year ago. This production rate is capped by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) following the January 2024 incident, when a panel detached mid-flight on a newly manufactured Alaska Airlines 737.
Monthly 737 MAX production has fluctuated in recent years due to internal and external challenges. A strike at Boeing’s Washington and Oregon plants halted production last year. Since resuming in December, the company has adopted a gradual approach to increasing output.
Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg stated that the company must maintain stable production of 38 units per month for several months before requesting FAA approval to ramp up volume.
According to the company, all six quality and safety metrics defined with U.S. regulators are currently in the green.
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