Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg has set a clear objective for 2026: transform cash outflows into positive free cash flow and begin reducing the company’s $55 billion debt load by accelerating deliveries of the 737 MAX. Management plans successive six-month production-rate increases of five aircraft per month, moving from 42 units monthly at end-2025 to 47 by mid-2026 and 52 by year-end. This ramp-up addresses Boeing’s largest commercial backlog of 7,800 orders, unlocking margin expansion and generating an estimated $4 billion annual cash inflow once the 52-aircraft cadence is sustained. Achieving these targets will be critical to funding Boeing’s next-generation narrow-body development without raising additional debt or diluting shareholders.

On January 5, Boeing renewed its Platinum Level sponsorship of the Experimental Aircraft Association’s annual AirVenture Oshkosh fly-in convention under a three-year agreement. Highlights include continuation of Boeing Plaza naming rights and free admission for all attendees 18 and under—a program that has welcomed nearly 500,000 youth since 2023. Boeing will also serve as Presenting Sponsor of WomenVenture and support airline crew check-in and KidVenture activities. This engagement reinforces Boeing’s $150 million annual commitment to workforce development in aviation and bolsters its brand among the next generation of pilots, engineers and technicians.