Boeing resumed production of its best-selling aircraft, the 737 MAX, approximately one month after a seven-week strike involving 33,000 factory workers concluded. According to sources familiar with the matter cited by Reuters, the assembly line was restarted last Friday.

The resumption of production is critical for the financial recovery of the manufacturer, which faces a significant debt burden. Currently, Boeing has approximately 4,200 orders for this model from airlines aiming to meet the growing global demand for air travel.

A company spokesperson declined to comment on the matter, and the sources requested anonymity as they were not authorized to speak to the media. This information had not been previously reported.

Meanwhile, the Administrator of the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Mike Whitaker, stated last Thursday that Boeing had not yet resumed production of the 737 MAX but planned to do so later in the month. However, according to the sources, production had already begun on Friday.

Challenges and limitations in production

Boeing’s goal is to reach a production rate of 56 units per month for the 737 MAX, but it faces numerous obstacles. In January, the FAA limited production to 38 units per month after an improperly secured door panel detached from a 737 MAX 9 operated by Alaska Airlines during a flight. This incident exposed serious safety shortcomings within the company, leading to increased regulatory scrutiny.

Although Whitaker avoided providing a specific date for lifting the production limit, he noted that it could take several months before Boeing is able to surpass the current rate.

According to Jefferies analysts cited by Reuters, Boeing will likely produce an average of 29 units of the 737 MAX per month in 2025, reflecting the significant challenges it faces in meeting its ambitious production goals.

The reactivation of the assembly line represents an important step for Boeing, but the road to full recovery remains fraught with both internal and external challenges.