A Boeing 777-9 made a notable appearance at Al-Maktoum International Airport as it prepared to land during the highly anticipated Dubai Airshow 2025 on November 17. This year’s event has attracted considerable attention, coinciding with Boeing’s optimistic outlook regarding its business trajectory as the year draws to a close.
Boeing’s Chief Financial Officer, Jay Malave, addressed attendees at a UBS conference, projecting an increase in deliveries for both the 737 and 787 jets in 2026. Malave expressed confidence, stating, “When you now fast forward to 2026, we’re going to be increasing our deliveries.” His remarks resonated positively with investors, contributing to a significant uptick in Boeing’s stock, which rose over 8% during midday trading on Tuesday.
Moreover, Malave hinted at the long-awaited certification of the 737-10 aircraft, which has faced multiple delays over the years, now expected to be finalized in late 2026. He underscored the importance of enhanced deliveries as a substantial driver of cash flow, with projections indicating positive free cash flow in the “low single digits” amounting to billions. This comes as a hopeful sign for investors, as Boeing has struggled to achieve annual profitability since 2018.
In addition to these optimistic projections, Malave noted that the company anticipates a “pretty significant boost” in cash margins through 2030 thanks to improvements in productivity. This reinforces the company’s commitment to strengthening its financial health after grappling with a series of challenges, including those stemming from a disastrous incident involving a door plug blowout on a flight in January 2024.
CEO Kelly Ortberg previously highlighted the company’s gradual recovery, noting reductions in quarterly losses. The company experienced a particularly strong delivery pace in October, positioning it for its highest annual delivery total since 2018. Notably, the Federal Aviation Administration lifted restrictions on Boeing, enabling the company to finalize some of its 737 Max and 787 Dreamliner aircraft before delivery, which has contributed to its return to cash-positive status for the first time in nearly two years.
As Boeing navigates these challenges and opportunities, industry watchers will be keenly observing its performance moving into 2026 and beyond.
