Boeing, the United States’ largest aerospace manufacturer, is showing signs of resurgence in 2025, as it pushes to reclaim its spot atop the global aviation industry after years of turbulence. The company delivered 55 jets in September, a sharp increase from the 33 delivered during the same month last year, when production was hampered by a massive labor dispute involving 33,000 factory workers in the Pacific Northwest, according to company records cited by UPI and Boeing’s own reports.
While the September tally is only a slight dip from August’s 57 deliveries, it marks Boeing’s strongest September since 2018—a year often remembered as its last high-water mark before a series of crises. Still, the company continues to trail its European rival, Airbus, which delivered 73 aircraft in September and has outpaced Boeing all year: Airbus has delivered 507 jets in the first nine months of 2025, compared to Boeing’s 440.
Much of Boeing’s momentum in 2025 can be traced to its 737 MAX program. Of the 440 commercial aircraft delivered so far this year, a remarkable 330 have been 737 MAX jets, according to UPI. September alone saw 40 of these aircraft handed over to customers, including 10 to Ireland’s Ryanair. Notably, one of these deliveries marked Boeing’s 2,000th MAX—a milestone for a model that has faced its share of scrutiny and setbacks in recent years.
Beyond the 737 MAX, Boeing’s September output included one 737 NG destined for conversion into a P-8 patrol aircraft for the U.S. Navy, as well as 14 widebody jets: four 767s, three 777 freighters, and seven 787 Dreamliners. The company’s global reach was evident, with eight aircraft delivered to Chinese customers, including a 777 freighter, a 787, and six 737 MAX jets. Cathay Pacific, based in Hong Kong, was also among the significant recipients, having purchased 14 Boeing airliners this year.
The company’s defense, space, and security operations have also been active. In the third quarter alone, Boeing produced and delivered 32 such aircraft, bringing the year’s total to 94. This includes the remanufacture of 28 AH-64 Apache helicopters and the production of 14 new ones, as well as six MH-139 Grey Wolf helicopters. Boeing also delivered one new and nine remanufactured CH-47 Chinook helicopters, seven F-15 fighters, 12 F/A-18 fighter-attack aircraft, nine KC-46 tankers, and four commercial and civil satellites.
Despite this uptick in output, Boeing’s financial performance remains under pressure. According to Guro Focus, the company’s three-year revenue growth rate is -1%, with revenues standing at $75.33 billion through the third quarter of 2025. Its operating margin is -12.45%, net margin is -14.18%, and the debt-to-equity ratio has dipped to -16.18%. These figures underscore the lingering effects of production disruptions and labor unrest, even as Boeing works to resolve such issues; the company has faced and settled two labor strikes since November 2024.
Boeing’s struggle to match Airbus’s production pace is not for lack of ambition. CEO Kelly Ortberg, speaking at a Morgan Stanley investor conference in September, expressed confidence in the company’s trajectory. “I think we’re pretty aligned,” Ortberg said, referring to the ongoing approval process with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). “We’ve got to get this final metric stabilized. And then we’re certainly still planning to be producing at 42 a month by the end of the year.”
This target represents a significant step up from the current FAA-imposed cap of 38 737 MAX jets per month—a restriction put in place after the near-catastrophic blowout of a door plug on an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX flight in January 2024. Ortberg’s goal is to boost production to 42 per month by January 2026, a move that would help Boeing close the gap with Airbus’s prolific A320 family, which, according to Bloomberg and Cirium data, is on track to surpass Boeing’s 737 lineup as the most widely delivered passenger aircraft ever.
Orders have also been robust. In September, Boeing reported net orders for 48 aircraft, or 96 gross sales before accounting for adjustments. Among these were 64 787 Dreamliners—50 of which were for Turkish Airlines—and 30 737s for Norwegian Airlines. Turkish Airlines, in particular, has signaled its confidence in Boeing, announcing an order for 75 787s and completing negotiations to buy 150 737 MAX planes. These deals followed a high-profile meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, highlighting the geopolitical dimensions of major aerospace contracts.
Relations with China, another crucial market, have been less predictable. While eight jets were delivered to Chinese customers in September, tensions flared earlier in October when President Trump threatened to impose export controls on spare parts for Boeing airplanes. However, the situation cooled after a weekend of intense communication between Washington and Beijing, as confirmed by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Such diplomatic back-and-forth underscores the delicate balance Boeing must strike as it navigates both international markets and domestic regulatory scrutiny.
For all its progress, Boeing’s journey back to pre-crisis strength is far from complete. In 2018, the company delivered a staggering 806 aircraft—a figure that still feels distant despite this year’s gains. The ongoing FAA restrictions, labor relations, and the competitive pressure from Airbus all loom large. But with production ramping up, new orders flowing in, and key labor disputes resolved, there’s a sense—however cautious—that Boeing is finally regaining altitude.
Yet, the numbers don’t lie: Airbus continues to outpace its American rival, both in monthly deliveries and year-to-date totals. In August, for instance, Airbus delivered 81 aircraft to Boeing’s 49, according to Flight Plan. And while Boeing’s September production was its highest in seven years, the company’s negative margins and slow revenue growth signal that profitability remains elusive.
Still, the mood inside Boeing’s factories and executive suites appears more optimistic than it has in years. With a diverse portfolio spanning commercial jets, military aircraft, and space technology, Boeing is betting that steady execution and careful management can restore its reputation and financial health. The next few months—especially the push to hit that 42-per-month production target—will be crucial in determining whether Boeing’s latest climb will last or stall.
As Boeing looks to the future, its leadership is keenly aware that every delivery, every order, and every negotiation carries outsized importance. In a world where global supply chains, international politics, and safety regulations intersect, the stakes for Boeing could hardly be higher. But for now, at least, the company is moving forward—one jet at a time.
