Boeing Takes Flight With Quarterly Beat As Turnaround Gains Speed
After years of turbulence that would make even seasoned pilots queasy, BoeingBA is finally stabilizing. One year under CEO Kelly Ortberg’s leadership, the aerospace giant is recovering from its 737 MAX disasters, loose door incident, and union strike. WithBA rising 31.5% YTD, it’s positioning 2025 as the “turnaround year”.
- Operating cash flow improved, with the company going from burning $3.9B last year to a positive cash flow of $227M — while revenue jumped 35%, beating analyst expectations.
- BA delivered 150 airplanes this quarter, representing the most since 2018 — while its commercial backlog swelled to 5.9K amid major deals with Qatar and British AirwaysBABWF.
Growth runway: Boeing’s ascent isn’t totally cleared for takeoff. FAA approval is still needed to surpass the 38-plane monthly production limit imposed upon the infamous MAX, while certification of its variants has been pushed to 2026. The defense unit faces potential strikes after workers “overwhelmingly” rejected a labor deal, and Ortberg’s Q4 cash generation target looms as the ultimate test. Yet airline CEOs who once demanded Boeing leadership get a “boot up the arse” now praise Ortberg’s turnaround — proving even the harshest critics can become believers when planes start flying on schedule.