Boeing delivers 45 planes in May as 737 Max production recovers

Boeing (NYSE:BA) is going into next week’s Paris Air Show on a high note after reporting a surge in aircraft orders and deliveries in May. The U.S. aerospace giant booked 303 gross orders last month and produced 38 new 737 Max aircraft, a milestone the company has been aiming to consistently hit for more than a year.

Among the standout deals was a massive order from Qatar Airways, which included 130 Dreamliners (787s) and 30 777X jets, with additional options for 50 more. While Boeing (NYSE:BA) acknowledged the full agreement, only 120 Dreamliners were officially added to its backlog, without explanation for the shortfall. The order is the largest widebody purchase in the company’s history.

Other notable transactions in May included a 20-jet 737 Max order from AviLease, a leasing company backed by Saudi Arabia, and a seven-plane order from Canada’s WestJet, which also canceled two jets. Although Etihad Airways indicated plans to purchase 28 widebody aircraft, the lack of a formal order excluded it from May’s figures. Net orders for the month totaled 300, raising Boeing’s overall backlog to 5,943 jets.

On the delivery front, Boeing (BA) handed over 45 aircraft, its fifth straight month exceeding 40 deliveries and nearly doubling the 24 it achieved in May 2024. Deliveries included 31 737 Max jets (with United Airlines and Alaska Airlines among recipients), seven Dreamliners, five 777 freighters and several military aircraft, including a P-8 Poseidon variant derived from the 737.

No aircraft were delivered to Chinese carriers, which had paused new Boeing (BA) purchases amid a trade dispute earlier this year. However, a new 737 Max was spotted landing in China this week, suggesting that deliveries may soon resume after the easing of tariffs between Washington and Beijing.

Through the first five months of 2025, Boeing (BA) has delivered 220 aircraft across its commercial lineup, compared to 243 delivered by European competitor Airbus (OTCPK:EADSF) (OTCPK:EADSY) over the same period. Airbus, which didn’t report any new orders in May, is expected to announce fresh deals at the Paris Air Show starting next week.

Meanwhile, Boeing (BA) confirmed that its 737 Max production has finally reached the FAA-imposed cap of 38 jets a month. That ceiling was put in place following a mid-air incident involving a cabin panel earlier in 2024. The company says it will need to maintain this pace consistently and meet stringent internal quality standards before regulators will consider lifting the cap.

All six safety and quality benchmarks monitored by Boeing (BA) and U.S. aviation authorities are currently in the green, the company said.