Boeing’s Back in the Air: Big Revenue, Smaller Losses, and a Shot at a Comeback

After years of bad headlines, production issues, and a high-profile door panel blowout mid-flight, Boeing is finally showing signs of real recovery. The aerospace giant just posted $22.7 billion in revenue for Q2 — its biggest quarterly total since 2018.

Sure, the company still lost $612 million for the quarter. But compared to the $1.4 billion it bled during the same period last year, that’s a big step forward.

“We’re seeing the early signs of a real turnaround,” said CEO Kelly Ortberg, who took the helm last August. “Change takes time, but the progress is real.”

Boeing delivered 280 commercial jets in the first half of 2025 — more than any first-half stretch since before the 737 Max crisis began in 2018. The company’s most popular plane, the 737 Max, is now being built at a steady pace of 38 jets a month, and Boeing’s hoping to raise that to 42 once the FAA gives the green light.

It’s not just quantity that’s improving. Ortberg has made quality a top priority after a string of safety issues — including the January 2024 door plug incident on a Max 9 flight that reignited scrutiny of Boeing’s manufacturing practices.

Orders are back, too. Boeing booked over 420 new plane orders in Q2 — its best quarter since late 2023. That includes a monster deal from Qatar Airways, which said it plans to buy up to 210 Dreamliners and 777-9s.

As of now, Boeing has a backlog of 5,900 planes worth $522 billion.

Also helping sales? Some high-profile trade deals brokered by President Trump, which included aviation commitments from US allies in the Middle East and Asia.

Despite the better numbers, Boeing’s far from cruising altitude.

• The Max 7 and Max 10 still aren’t certified, and Boeing just pushed expected approval into 2026, citing delays in fixing the aircrafts’ anti-icing systems.
• A strike by more than 3,000 defense workers in Missouri and Illinois could hit production of military jets.
• The Air India crash involving a Boeing 787 in June also brought fresh attention — though early investigations suggest pilot error, not a mechanical flaw.

And then there’s the money. Boeing is still losing cash — though it’s burning way less than before: just $200 million in Q2, down from a staggering $4.3 billion last year.

Wall Street liked what it saw. Boeing’s stock rose about 1.5% after the earnings report and continues to trend upward as confidence builds around Ortberg’s recovery plan.

Boeing also got a break this week when the US and European Union struck a trade deal that spares aircraft and parts from new tariffs, giving the entire aerospace sector a tailwind.

After five rough years of crashes, quality crises, and production chaos, Boeing is finally showing serious signs of stabilization. There’s still a long runway ahead, but with jet deliveries up, orders flowing in, and losses shrinking, Ortberg’s “turnaround year” might actually be taking shape.

Now the question is: Can Boeing keep flying higher — or will another crisis send it spiraling again?

With input from the New York Times, CNBC, and the Financial Times.