In a significant move to address persistent supply chain bottlenecks, American aerospace giant Boeing has announced plans to ramp up its monthly production of narrow-body jets. This strategic increase is aimed at fulfilling the substantial pending orders from its key Indian customers, Air India and Akasa Air, who have been vocal about delivery delays hampering their expansion strategies.
Production Ramp-Up to Enhance Predictability
Boeing intends to elevate its production rate for single-aisle aircraft to 47 jets per month starting in the latter part of spring or early summer next year. This marks an increase from the current rate of 42 per month, which itself was raised from 38 in October. The company's spokesperson highlighted that this ramp-up, driven by improvements in safety and quality oversight, is designed to provide greater stability and predictability for its airline partners.
A 60% reduction in source-level issues has already been achieved through tighter supply chain management, the spokesperson noted. This production boost is critical as Indian carriers look to aggressively grow both their domestic and international networks.
Indian Airlines Await Their Fleets
The timing of Boeing's decision is crucial. Indian airlines have repeatedly flagged that aircraft delivery delays from manufacturers have directly impacted their growth plans and route expansions.
Air India, under the Tata Group, placed a historic order for 220 Boeing jets as part of its 570-aircraft deal split with Airbus. This order comprises 190 Boeing 737-8s (narrow-body), 20 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, and 10 Boeing 777-X aircraft. Since September 2023, the airline has received 35 Boeing 737-8s. An Air India executive confirmed that pending deliveries from Boeing stand at approximately 184 aircraft, including 155 narrow-body planes.
CEO Campbell Wilson stated in October that Air India will induct one new wide-body aircraft every six weeks in 2026, alongside refurbishing its existing Boeing fleet. The airline is targeting a pace of one new aircraft induction per week, matching the cadence of market leader IndiGo.
Meanwhile, Akasa Air, which operates an all-Boeing fleet, is also awaiting faster deliveries. With a current fleet of 31 aircraft and a total order book for 226 Boeing 737 Max jets, the airline expects to start receiving 1-2 planes per month from next year. Founder Vinay Dube recently expressed anticipation of expedited deliveries following Boeing's production increase.
Wide-Body Production Also Scales Up
The production increase is not limited to narrow-body aircraft. Boeing also plans to ramp up output of its 787 Dreamliner wide-body jets at its North Charleston facility. Production here will rise from the current 8 to 10 aircraft per month.
For Air India, the first airline-customised Boeing 777X wide-body is expected to arrive by late December or early January, marking a key milestone in its fleet modernization and long-haul expansion.
This coordinated production push by Boeing underscores the strategic importance of the Indian aviation market, where airlines are on a massive fleet expansion spree to capture growing passenger demand. The move promises to bring much-needed relief to carriers whose ambitious growth plans have been tethered to the availability of new aircraft.
