Image Source: Unsplash

Boeing Co. (BA) reported on Tuesday that it delivered 53 aircraft in October, bringing its total deliveries for 2025 to 493 jets.

The US planemaker also booked 15 new orders last month, reflecting steady demand despite lingering production and regulatory challenges.

Of the total aircraft delivered in October, 39 were Boeing’s best-selling 737 MAX jets, including nine to Southwest Airlines and five to Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair.

The company also delivered one 737 Next Generation aircraft, which will be converted into a P-8 maritime patrol plane for the US Navy.

In addition, Boeing handed over 13 widebody jets: seven 787 Dreamliners, two 777 freighters, and four 767s.

The company is on pace to post its highest annual delivery total since 2018, when it delivered 806 aircraft.

Boeing’s production and deliveries dropped sharply in subsequent years after the grounding of the 737 MAX in 2019, following two fatal crashes that killed 346 people, followed by the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg has made improving production quality a key focus for the company’s commercial airplane division heading into 2025.

Federal regulators recently approved an increase in 737 MAX production from 38 to 42 aircraft per month, a sign of progress in stabilizing output.

However, Boeing still trails its main European rival, Airbus SE, which delivered 585 planes in the first 10 months of this year.

Order book expands but momentum slows

Boeing’s order activity slowed in October, with the company logging 15 new orders, eight 737s and seven 787 Dreamliners, but also receiving cancellations for seven 737s, resulting in a net total of eight new orders.

Despite the modest monthly gain, Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner continues to see robust demand.

The company has secured 320 Dreamliner orders so far this year, marking the second-highest annual total in its history after the record 369 orders in 2007.

The company is expanding its production facilities in South Carolina, where the 787 is assembled, to meet increasing demand.

Boeing has also booked 782 new aircraft orders this year after accounting for cancellations and conversions, with a total order backlog now standing at 5,911 aircraft.

Shares of Boeing were largely unchanged at $194.71 on Tuesday, putting the stock’s year-to-date gains at 13.29%.

777X progress and outlook

In addition to delivery progress, Boeing received positive regulatory news for its long-delayed 777X program.

According to The Air Current, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has authorized Boeing to advance to the next stage of test flights for the widebody jet.

The 777X, first launched in 2013, completed its maiden flight in 2020 but has since faced repeated certification delays and heightened regulatory scrutiny due to previous issues with the 737 MAX.

Boeing describes the 777X as the world’s largest and most efficient twin-engine jet, capable of carrying over 400 passengers in certain configurations.

The company currently has 565 unfilled orders for the aircraft and expects the model to enter commercial service in 2027 after extensive testing and FAA certification.

In the third quarter, Boeing took a $5 billion charge to account for delays in the 777X program.

“We continue to work under the oversight of the FAA to meet all certification requirements,” the company said in an emailed statement.

Looking ahead, Boeing expects to deliver about 600 jets in 2025, up from fewer than 350 in 2024.

Despite near-term challenges, investors remain cautiously optimistic as the company makes gradual progress toward restoring output and regaining market confidence.

More By This Author: