The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has lifted its production cap on Boeing’s beleaguered 737 MAX aircraft.
The American aircraft manufacturer can now produce as many as 42 planes per month, up from a limit of 38 that was imposed after a door panel blew out on an Alaska Airlines flight in January 2024.
A person briefed on the matter told Reuters that FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford called Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg on Friday to confirm the cap change.
Boeing credited “the work by our team, our suppliers and the FAA to ensure we are prepared to increase production with safety and quality at the forefront.”
Meanwhile, the FAA said the change comes after it “conducted extensive reviews of Boeing’s production lines to ensure that this small production rate increase will be done safely.”
The positive news comes at a critical time for Boeing as the FAA only recently proposed fines in excess of $3.1 million against the company over safety lapses occurring between September 2023 and February 2024.
Last month, the FAA restored Boeing’s airworthiness certification power for some 737 MAX and 787 aircraft for the first time in years.
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