Boeing Takes Flight Again! (Maybe Don't Hold Your Breath...or Your Door Plug)

Back in the Air (Almost)

Alright folks Captain America here reporting for duty! Seems Boeing managed to crank out 60 airplanes last month. Now that's the best they've done since December 2023 which let's be honest feels like a lifetime ago back when folks weren't double checking every bolt before boarding a flight. 'I can do this all day,' Boeing seems to be saying but the question is can they do it safely? Remember what Dr. Erskine said? 'Not a scratch!' applies to more than just super soldiers folks. It applies to airplanes too!

The Door Plug Debacle: A Hole Lot of Trouble

You all remember that door plug incident back in January right? The one that made everyone suddenly appreciate having all their limbs and internal organs intact mid flight? Yeah that little mishap really put a damper on things. Production slowed faster than Bucky trying to parallel park the Howling Commandos' jeep. But hey 42 of those deliveries were 737 Maxes! That's... something. Southwest Alaska and United are among the brave souls trusting Boeing again. I hope they've got their seatbelts fastened and their prayers ready because well 'if I see a situation pointed south I can’t ignore it. Sometimes I wish I could.'

Ortberg's Optimism: Is it Super Serum or Wishful Thinking?

CEO Kelly Ortberg who took the reins last August claims they're making progress. Progress is good! But is it 'stopping Red Skull from nuking America' good or more like 'remembering to return your library books' good? For the second quarter they delivered 150 airplanes their best since 2018. Now 2018 was also the last time they turned a profit. Coincidence? I think NOT! But hey two wrongs don't make a right... or a safe airplane. Now if you need me I'll be with Peggy she's an Aviation expert you know?

Airbus's Lead: Boeing Needs to Catch Up…Fast!

While Boeing's been wrestling with gremlins in their machinery Airbus has been widening the gap. It's like they're running the New York Marathon and Boeing's still trying to find their shoes. They were making about 38 Max aircraft a month this spring and need the FAA’s blessing to go above that. Ortberg believes they can hit 42 jets a month. Confidence is key but so is ya know not having your planes fall apart mid air. As my good friend Tony Stark said 'Sometimes you gotta run before you can walk.'

Orders and Backlogs: A Paper Airplane Empire?

They booked 116 gross orders in June but after cancellations and adjustments it's down to 70 net orders. It's like planning a massive party and then realizing half your guests RSVP'd 'no' because they saw the news about the punch bowl being made from vibranium. Still their backlog stands at 5,953. That's a lot of potential airplanes! Let's just hope they all have the necessary… you know… *parts* attached.

Judgment Day: Investors Await the Financial Report

July 29th is the big day folks. That's when Boeing unveils their second quarter financial results. Investors are gonna be grilling Ortberg about his plan to ramp up production and deliveries. It's gonna be like a courtroom scene only instead of a judge you've got a bunch of guys in suits who are really REALLY interested in profit margins. All eyes are on Boeing. Let's hope they can pull this off without any more... *explosions*.