Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg revealed that stabilizing the production of the 737 Max aircraft is taking longer than initially anticipated. The company is currently producing about 47 planes per month but has faced challenges in ramping up production swiftly. A key factor causing delays is the bottleneck in wing production at Boeing’s Renton, Washington factory. Ortberg assured investors that Boeing has developed plans to resolve this issue as the company aims to increase output next year.

The 737 Max is central to Boeing’s business recovery efforts following multiple years of safety and quality setbacks that affected the company’s reputation. Boeing’s plans include moving forward with certification for the Max 10, the model that is the largest in the 737 Max family. Although certification for the Max 10 is expected imminently, this particular version is already several years behind its original schedule, a delay that has impacted Boeing’s long-term production timeline.

Despite an upcoming meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, CEO Ortberg tempered expectations regarding new aircraft orders from China. He emphasized that any announcements about order placements would come from the airlines themselves and happen at their own pace. This cautious stance reflects the complex and sometimes unpredictable nature of global airline demand and geopolitical influences on trade.

Following Ortberg’s remarks, Boeing’s stock experienced a decline, falling over 5% in afternoon trading. Investors appear to be weighing the ongoing production challenges against the company’s plans for recovery. The 737 Max remains Boeing’s best-selling plane and a crucial part of its turnaround strategy, but the extended timeline to stabilize production highlights the hurdles still facing the aerospace giant.