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The narrowbody Boeing 737 airliner is the bread and butter of Boeing's commercial passenger jet sales and deliveries. It has the second-largest backlog of any commercial airliner in the world (after the A320), but deliveries have remained suppressed since the MAX crisis that began in 2018, though they are now close to a full recovery. In mid-2026, Boeing finally opened a fourth assembly line in Everett while also working to boost and stabilize production at its three main lines in Renton.
In the narrowbody race, Airbus remains ahead, though the margin is no longer dramatic. Airbus also appears at a more advanced (but still very early) stage of developing a cleansheet narrowbody replacement for its popular A320 family than Boeing. However, any replacement is at least a decade away, and one of the biggest priorities for both Airbus and Boeing is ramping up production of existing aircraft. Here is what to know about Boeing's 737 delivery rates in 2026.
Boeing's 2026 Deliveries
Boeing shows the Boeing 737 family has a backlog of 4,813, or 4,341 after the ASC 606 Adjustment. Boeing announced it had delivered 114 Boeing 737s in the first quarter of 2026 and then another 129 in the second quarter. As of the time of writing, delivery results for the third quarter have not yet been released, but Boeing data for the first eight months show it has now delivered a total of 320 Boeing 737 series aircraft.
That averages 40 Boeing 737 family aircraft deliveries per month for the first two-thirds of 2026. This marks a significant recovery in deliveries but remains below pre-MAX crisis levels. The last 'normal' year for Boeing commercial deliveries remains 2018. In that year, Boeing delivered 580 Boeing 737s, or around 48 a month.
In its second-quarter filing, Boeing broke down undelivered 737 MAX aircraft as about 264 MAX 7s (6%), 2,550 MAX 8s (58%), 220 MAX 9s (5%), and 1,363 MAX 10s (31%). Until now, Boeing had delivered only the MAX 8 and MAX 9 variants. These had received their type certificates before the crashes in 2018 and 2019.
737 MAX 7 Certification
The drawn-out MAX crisis appears to be coming to an end for Boeing. In August, Boeing received a major boon with its shortened MAX 7 finally achieving its type certification after many years of delays. In a statement, the FAA said, "Following almost a decade of extensive review, the FAA has issued an amended type certificate and updated Production Limitation Record for the Boeing 737 MAX-7. The approval reflects years of sustained work to resolve complex technical issues..."
Critically, the other MAX variant, the MAX 10, remains uncertified as of the time of writing. Its certification remains close, and the program is in the final documentation phase. The last obstacle appears to have been overcome in early October when the FAA's Corrective Action Review Board determined that an unexpected software issue was not a safety concern.
|
Boeing 737 MAX variants |
Share Of Undelivered Orders |
Approx. number of aircraft (June 2026) |
|---|---|---|
|
737 MAX 7 |
6% |
264 |
|
737 MAX 8 |
58% |
2,550 |
|
737 MAX 9 |
5% |
220 |
|
737 MAX 10 |
31% |
1,363 |
|
Total |
100% |
4,397 |
The MAX 7 is expected to provide a delivery bump in late 2026, but this is expected to be a small, concentrated initial delivery batch, not a major production ramp. In July 2026, Boeing was still officially forecasting its first MAX 7 delivery in 2027, but in September Southwest said it now expects some MAX 7 deliveries in late 2026. In September, Reuters reported that Boeing had already built 27 MAX 7s for Southwest and was preparing them for delivery.
Slower Than Expected Boeing 737 Ramp Up
Reuters reported that Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg said in September that it is taking "longer than expected" to stabilize 737 MAX production at its target of 47 deliveries per month. Increasing 737 output is seen as critical to Boeing's financial recovery and to address its $26 billion in net debt and damaged reputation. Boeing is planning to continue raising production to reach 52 Boeing 737s monthly in 2027.
Previously, Boeing was constrained by imposed FAA production rates. Now the chief issue is broader supply chain constraints limiting the world's commercial aviation market writ large. Often the bottleneck is the engines, although in this case, Reuters wrote, "The company has not been able to make 737 wings fast enough to consistently feed the higher rate of 47 jets a month."
It's not just the Boeing 737; Boeing is also working to increase 787 Dreamliner deliveries to 10 jets a month, but it is taking longer than expected. The bottleneck here is the engine shortages. Particularly troublesome for Boeing are ongoing certification delays for its flagship 777X. Overall, things are looking better for Boeing with the light at the end of the tunnel, but issues and delays remain.
Boeing Has Opened Fourth Production Line
Boeing started 2026 with a delivery rate of around 42 Boeing 737s a month. It planned to increase the rate to 47 a month by mid-2026 and to over 47 a month by late 2026. Boeing has reached 42 a month (41 in September and 42 in August), but reaching a stable 47 remains a work in progress. In July, Boeing announced it had officially opened its fourth production line, the 'North Line' at Everett.
It stated, "On Monday, teammates began production on the first 737 MAX airplane to be built in Everett." Beyond boosting the long-term production rate, the new assembly line is expected to help stabilize production, more lines reduce the risk of impacts on a single line. This is the first time Boeing has assembled 737s outside Renton, and it resulted from Boeing investing $1 billion to convert and equip the facility.
For now, the delivery rate of this new line will be slow so Boeing can work out any issues before ramping up. It is working to expand its three Renton lines from 42 to a stable 47, with the Everett line then proving the rate to 52 a month and eventually beyond. Long term, Boeing has said it is considering 737 production rates as high as 70 units per month. Reuters reported in July, "The company is studying increasing the 737 production rate to as much as 70 jets per month."
Boeing Remains Ahead In Widebody Aircraft
Deliveries are often skewed toward the end of the year, so 2026 averages may still increase. Airbus has a target to deliver 870 aircraft in 2026, of which around half, or 475, had been delivered in the first eight months. Boeing has delivered a total of 418 commercial aircraft, including widebody aircraft. So far, Airbus leads by 57 aircraft, although Boeing has delivered more widebody aircraft. In August, Boeing delivered 32 MAX 8s, nine MAX 9s, and a single 737-800A.
Airbus continues to lead in the narrowbody market with deliveries, orders, and backlog. However, Boeing leads in the widebody market. In the first eight months of 2026, Airbus delivered 11 A330s and 35 A350s for a total of 46 widebodies. Boeing's widebody deliveries amounted to 22 Boeing 767s, 18 Boeing 777s, and 54 Boeing 787s, totalling 94 widebody airliners.
The 767 and 777 deliveries are residual freighters (767-300F and 777F), and the programs are winding down. Boeing plans to deliver its final 767 in 2027 (excluding military KC-46 tankers). The 777F has been extended to 2031, and a modest number of new units may still be ordered. But production is expected to switch to the next-generation, but delayed, Boeing 777-8F around 2029. Airbus' rival A350F is expected to enter service in 2027.
Airbus A320 Family Deliveries
Itis hard to discuss Boeing 737 deliveries without also discussing rival Airbus A320 deliveries. The two aircraft almost serve as benchmarks for each other. Although the A320 debuted around two decades after the Boeing 737, it has consistently been delivered in higher numbers for years. In early 2026, it overtook the 737 in total cumulative deliveries.
Airbus currently reports a backlog of 7,577 A320 family aircraft, the vast majority of which are the stretched A321neo variant. In August, Airbus reported delivering 425 narrowbody aircraft, including 60 Airbus A220 aircraft. A320 family deliveries include three A319neos, 136 A320neos, and 230 A321neos.
This totals 369 Airbus A320 family deliveries, or 46 per month. That is remarkably close to Boeing's target of 47 Boeing 737 deliveries per month and about six more aircraft per month than its 2026 delivery rate. Airbus is working toward boosting its A320 family production rate to around 60 a month, with plans to boost it further to 70–75 per month by the end of 2027. However, Airbus remains constrained by supply chain issues, including engine shortages.