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A win for the order book
Boeing finally got to play the good-news clip first: Korean Air finalized a record order for 103 jets, a haul worth about $36.2 billion at list prices. That’s the kind of headline that makes aircraft backlog nerds smile and gives Boeing a little proof that airlines still want the planes — even if the delivery schedule can feel like waiting for your food app when the kitchen is on fire.
But the factory still has drama
Then Kelly Ortberg stepped up and basically said, “Yeah, we’re moving, just not as fast as you’d like.” He told investors Boeing needs more time to stabilize 737 MAX production at 47 jets a month, pointing to wing-production bottlenecks at the Renton, Washington plant. Translation: demand isn’t the problem; execution is.
The market heard the second part louder
Shares slid as much as 6% intraday and finished down 4.5% on the day, the stock’s biggest one-day drop since May. That’s the classic Boeing paradox: every progress update is nice, but the market wants consistent planes, not just consistent press releases.
Why you should care
The week also brought some operational breadcrumbs, including progress on 737 MAX 10 certification and a landing-gear exchange milestone with American Airlines. Big picture: Boeing is still selling the dream — but until production gets out of its own way, investors are likely to keep treating every win like it comes with a side of turbulence.