Boeing reported 60 aircraft delivered in May, representing a 33% rise compared with deliveries in the same month last year. The company noted that its May total still trailed the 81 deliveries recorded by European rival Airbus for the same period.
Of the 60 aircraft delivered in May, 51 were 737 MAXs. That figure is the highest monthly output for the single-aisle 737 MAX since Boeing restarted production in December 2024 following a strike-induced pause. Boeing plans to increase the 737 production cadence from 42 jets per month to 47 per month over the summer.
During May Boeing logged 27 new orders. The tally included 14 737s that are intended for conversion into military-configured aircraft for an undisclosed customer. Lufthansa placed an order for 10 787s. The company also recorded 16 cancellations of 737 MAX orders in May, leaving net new orders of 11 for the month.
Through the end of May, Boeing has delivered 250 aircraft year-to-date, which includes 198 737 MAX jets. May's delivery mix also featured six 787s - aircraft that continue to face certification delays related to premium seats - as well as one 777 freighter and one 767 freighter.
On the orders front, Boeing reported 324 new orders through May. After 29 cancellations or conversions, net new orders stood at 295 for the period. The company's order backlog was 6,178 aircraft at the end of May.
Context and operational notes
- The 737 MAX's monthly delivery peak in May follows the resumption of production in December 2024.
- Planned production ramp-up for the 737 aims to lift output from 42 to 47 aircraft per month during the summer months.
- Order activity in May included both commercial widebody demand - exemplified by Lufthansa's 10 787 order - and military conversions of 737s for an unnamed customer.
Numbers and operational detail above are provided by Boeing and reflect activity through the end of May.