Kelly Ortberg said Boeing expects to have the financial firepower to launch a replacement for its bestselling 737 Max by the end of the decade, speaking at the Farnborough Airshow. The CEO noted the company is getting its “financial house in order” and will free resources once it certifies the final 737 Max variants and the delayed 777X.

Ortberg indicated readiness is not a constraint; Boeing is preparing a next‑generation narrow‑body to compete with Airbus, which plans a 2030 launch. The programme would cost billions, and Ortberg has made financial stability a priority before committing. Boeing aims to be cash‑flow positive in H2 and raise 737 production from 42 to 52 jets a month.

Certification of the 737 Max 7, Max 10 and the 777‑9 (slated for deliveries next year) will release engineering capacity. Ortberg warned the market is “less ready today than a year ago,” with airlines focused on current fleet durability, and he favors a mature, enclosed‑engine design over the open‑fan concept Airbus is testing.

The FAA recently restored Boeing’s authority to issue its own airworthiness certificates for the 737 Max and 787, a trust milestone since 2019. Q2 deliveries rose 12% to 171 aircraft, and a new 737 Max production line opened. On defense, Boeing is shifting to European partnerships, teaming with BAE Systems, Saab and Rheinmetall. Regarding President Donald Trump, Ortberg called him “very helpful… an aeroplane fanatic.”