Boeing Reports Narrower Quarterly Loss but Pushes 737 Production Goal Into 2027

Boeing reported a sharply narrower third-quarter loss on Tuesday, October 27, but its chief executive said the company would not reach its planned 737 production rate of 47 aircraft per month until early 2027. The revised timetable adds a new obstacle to the planemaker's effort to stabilize production and improve cash generation.

Chief Executive Kelly Ortberg said during a CNBC interview that reaching the 47-jet monthly rate would take until early next year, according to Reuters reporting updated Tuesday afternoon. The company had previously hoped to achieve that pace during the summer. Ortberg emphasized a disciplined increase in output rather than accelerating production at the expense of manufacturing reliability.

Boeing's earnings release earlier in the day showed third-quarter revenue of $24.2 billion, an increase of 4% from the corresponding period of 2025. The company recorded a net loss of $116 million, or 26 cents per share, compared with a $5.34 billion loss a year earlier. Its adjusted, non-GAAP loss was 34 cents per share. The figures show improvement from last year's exceptionally weak comparison, although the company remained unprofitable on a net basis.

The commercial-airplane business continued to face pressure. Revenue in that division declined to approximately $10.7 billion and it reported a $697 million operating loss, with an operating margin of negative 6.5%. Boeing attributed the result to a less favorable mix of aircraft deliveries and higher projected production and supply-chain costs.

The group delivered 161 commercial airplanes during the quarter, compared with 160 a year earlier. Its official results also reported $1.5 billion in operating cash flow and $464 million in free cash flow, a non-GAAP measure that deducts capital spending. Positive cash flow is important to Boeing because it has been investing in production and quality improvements while managing substantial debt.

Other divisions provided support. Boeing's defense, space and security unit generated approximately $492 million in operating earnings, helped by higher volume and a gain from the sale of a subsidiary. Global Services reported about $1 billion in operating earnings. Boeing's total order backlog reached a record $745 billion at the end of September, including more than 6,300 commercial aircraft.

The company also highlighted certification progress for the 737-7 and 737-10 models and the selection of Boeing for a US Navy next-generation fighter programme. These developments strengthen its longer-term commercial and defense pipeline, but they do not immediately remove factory bottlenecks.

Ortberg's updated production timetable underlines the difference between demand and the ability to fulfill it. Boeing has a large book of orders, yet converting those commitments into deliveries and cash depends on sustained manufacturing output, supplier capacity and regulatory compliance. The 47-aircraft monthly rate is now a target for early 2027 rather than a milestone expected this year.