Boeing reported 60 jet deliveries in May, marking a 33% rise compared with the same month a year earlier. The U.S. planemaker fell short of rival Airbus, which delivered 81 jets in May.
Single-aisle 737 MAX aircraft accounted for the majority of the firm’s May shipments, with 51 737 MAX jets delivered. That figure represents Boeing’s largest single-month total of the model since production resumed in December 2024 after a strike disrupted output.
Separately, Boeing said it will raise the 737 production rate from 42 jets per month to 47 per month over the summer. The company’s disclosed production pace is a central element of its near-term capacity plan as it seeks to translate manufacturing momentum into higher monthly deliveries.
Order activity in May was mixed. Boeing booked 27 new orders during the month. Of those, 14 were 737s that will be converted into military aircraft for an unidentified customer. Lufthansa placed an order for 10 787s in May.
Offsetting the new bookings, Boeing recorded cancellations for 16 737 MAX orders in May. After factoring in those cancellations, the company reported 11 net new orders for the month.
Through the end of May, Boeing has delivered 250 jets year-to-date, including 198 737 MAX aircraft. May’s deliveries also included six 787s, which Boeing noted continue to face delays related to certification of premium seats, along with one 777 freighter and one 767 freighter.
On a year-to-date basis for orders, Boeing has booked 324 new aircraft through May. There were 29 cancellations or conversions over the same period, leaving a net total of 295 new orders through the first five months of the year. At the close of May, Boeing’s order backlog stood at 6,178 aircraft.
Context and near-term considerations:
- Production ramp - Boeing’s planned increase in 737 output from 42 to 47 per month this summer will be a key operational milestone in converting manufacturing capacity into sustained deliveries.
- Order composition - The inclusion of 14 737s slated for military conversion highlights demand channels beyond commercial carriers, while Lufthansa’s 10-aircraft 787 order reflects airline renewal activity.
- Certification constraints - Continued 787 delays tied to premium seat certification are constraining deliveries of that widebody model.
The figures outline a month of solid delivery growth for Boeing alongside mixed order dynamics and ongoing certification-related impediments for certain widebody models. The company’s announced production rate increase will be monitored as deliveries unfold in the coming months.