Mirror Review
June 11, 2025
Summary:
- Boeing booked 303 new aircraft orders in May 2025, its highest monthly total in two years.
- The bookings are driven mainly by a major deal with Qatar Airways and additional orders from AviLease and others.
- Boeing also hit a key production milestone, reaching the FAA-capped rate of 38 737 MAX jets per month, while its total backlog rose to 5,943 aircraft.
Boeing booked an impressive 303 new orders in May, a success story heavily influenced by major deals during President Donald Trump’s diplomatic tours in the Middle East.
This demand for Boeing airplane orders provides the American manufacturer with powerful momentum as it heads into the critical Paris Air Show.
But did a former president just give Boeing its biggest sales month in two years?
Let’s find out!
Breakdown of Boeing’s May Performance
- Total Gross Orders: 303 jets, the highest for a single month since June 2023.
- Net Orders: After accounting for a few cancellations, the net total for May was 300 new orders.
- Key Customers:
- Qatar Airways: 210 widebody jets.
- AviLease: 20 737 MAX jets.
- WestJet: 7 737 MAX jets.
- Unidentified Customers: 119 737 MAX, 7 787-9.
- Deliveries: Boeing handed over 45 aircraft (up from 24 last year)
- Order Backlog: The company’s total backlog of unfilled orders grew to 5,943 airplanes.
From Doha to Deal: A Timeline
Much of Boeing’s record-breaking May can be traced back to high-level diplomacy from the previous U.S. administration.
Several of the month’s biggest orders were directly linked to former President Trump’s Middle East outreach, turning state visits into sales opportunities.
Here’s how the deal came together:
- May 2024:
President Trump embarks on a high-stakes diplomatic tour across the Middle East, including stops in Qatar and Saudi Arabia. During this trip, early groundwork is laid for major aerospace deals.
- May 14, 2025:
Boeing finalizes a historic order from Qatar Airways for 150 widebody jets — 120 Dreamliners and 30 of the new 777-9s — at a high-profile signing in Doha with U.S. officials in attendance. It becomes the largest widebody jet deal in Boeing’s history.
- May 13, 2025:
Saudi-owned leasing firm AviLease confirms an order for 20 737-8 MAX jets. This, too, ties back to Trump-era engagement and trade talks focused on economic partnerships.
These politically influenced deals couldn’t have come at a more crucial time. Boeing is still regaining stability following intense scrutiny over quality and safety issues.
CEO Kelly Ortberg put it clearly: “We continue to make fundamental changes across Boeing to strengthen safety, quality, and our culture, and we are seeing steady improvement in our performance.”
Now, with these wins secured, Boeing enters June with strong momentum heading into the Paris Air Show.
Is This the First Time Politics Has Fueled Aviation Deals?
Not at all. Boeing’s long history includes several politically charged agreements that have reshaped global aviation:
- 2017: During Trump’s presidency, a $110 billion deal with Saudi Arabia included large aircraft orders from Boeing.
- 2016: Under President Obama, Boeing signed controversial aircraft deals with Iran — later canceled under the Trump administration.
- Ongoing: Airbus has often benefited from European diplomatic engagements, especially in China and Southeast Asia.
The Qatar deal is just the latest example of how diplomacy often lays the groundwork for multi-billion-dollar airplane agreements.
Key Milestone of Boeing Production
While new orders are pouring in, Boeing is also ramping up output. In May, the company increased 737 production to 38 jets per month — the maximum currently allowed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The production cap was put in place following a mid-air door plug blowout on a 737 MAX in January 2024.
Boeing now plans to stabilize production at this rate before requesting FAA approval to scale further.
Airbus: A Solid Competitor
The strong May performance is a direct contrast to its European rival Airbus, which reported no new orders last month.
However, the competition remains fierce. So far this year, Airbus has delivered 243 planes, slightly ahead of Boeing’s 220. The industry will be watching closely to see what deals emerge from the Paris show.
Final Thoughts
Boeing’s record-setting month is more than just a number — it’s a reflection of how global diplomacy, timing, and market recovery can combine to create industry-defining moments.
But is geopolitics a reliable foundation for sustained commercial success?
Only time and consistent quality on the factory floor will tell.
