By David Shepardson and Dan Catchpole
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Boeing may increase 737 MAX production to 42 planes per month after the Federal Aviation Administration lifted the 38-plane-per-month limit that had been in place since January 2024, the agency and the planemaker said on Friday.
The FAA imposed the unprecedented production limit shortly after a mid-air emergency in 2024 involving a new Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 that was missing four key bolts.
The announcement is a major milestone for the American aircraft manufacturer, which was plunged into a safety crisis following the mid-air incident.
The FAA said Friday that its safety inspectors “conducted extensive reviews of Boeing production lines to ensure this small increase in production rate is done safely.”
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford called Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg on Friday to confirm that the planemaker could raise the tariff to 42 planes, a person briefed on the matter said.
Boeing plans to quickly begin producing planes at a rate of 42 per month.
Boeing said it appreciated “the work of our team, our suppliers and the FAA to ensure we are prepared to ramp up production with safety and quality at the forefront.”
(Reporting by David Shepardson;)