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Boeing’s Orberg Discusses Efforts to Match Airbus Delivery Rates

Boeing’s Ortberg Outlines Path to Match Airbus Delivery Rates Amid Ongoing Challenges
Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg addressed the company’s efforts to recover and align its delivery rates with Airbus during the Morgan Stanley Laguna Conference. Despite a turbulent six-year period marked by production setbacks, regulatory scrutiny, and financial losses, Ortberg expressed cautious optimism about Boeing’s progress. “We were almost at parity on deliveries with Airbus last month… We’re getting there,” he stated, highlighting the gradual improvement under his leadership, now one year in. He emphasized that customer confidence is improving and that the company’s recovery plan is gaining momentum.
Persistent Challenges and Certification Delays
Ortberg acknowledged that while Boeing is “turning the corner,” significant challenges remain. The certification of the 737-7 and 737-10 MAX models has been delayed into 2026 due to ongoing engine anti-ice issues. The 777X program, originally slated for entry into service in 2019, continues to face substantial hurdles. Despite operating five test aircraft, the program has yet to secure full Type Inspection Authorization (TIA) from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Ortberg described the certification process as “a mountain of work,” with only incremental progress made through partial TIAs. These delays have pushed the first 777-9 deliveries to the fourth quarter of 2026, a significant setback from the previously promised June timeline. Ortberg noted the financial implications of even minor schedule slips, given the program’s current loss-making status.
Rework and operational discipline remain critical issues for Boeing Commercial Aircraft. The company continues to grapple with costly post-production fixes that divert resources from the assembly line, impacting overall efficiency. Additionally, Boeing faces ongoing pressure to rebuild regulatory trust and reinforce its safety culture following an $11.8 billion loss in 2024. Maintaining operational discipline is essential as the company seeks to expand its market presence.
Boeing’s Position Relative to Airbus
The comparison between Boeing and Airbus is complex. Boeing recently cleared its backlog of 737 MAX aircraft, a process that spanned six years following the model’s 21-month grounding in 2019 and pandemic-related disruptions. In contrast, Airbus currently holds approximately 60 A320neo family jets in storage, awaiting engines from suppliers CFM International and Pratt & Whitney. Airbus continues to dominate the narrowbody market with a 60% production share, compared to Boeing’s 40%, and is on track to deliver up to 820 aircraft in 2025, reinforcing its status as the world’s largest aircraft manufacturer.
Airbus’s strategic emphasis on supply chain responsiveness and industrial scale has enabled it to outpace Boeing in narrowbody deliveries and maintain its industry lead. As Boeing works to stabilize its core operations and streamline certification processes, Ortberg remains focused on restoring confidence and closing the gap with its European rival. “We’re getting there,” he reiterated, while acknowledging that substantial work lies ahead before Boeing can fully match Airbus’s delivery rates and regain its footing in the global aerospace market.

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