Boeing Stock Surges on Major Orders and FAA Breakthrough

Boeing Stock Climbs to New Heights Amid Key Industry Milestones

In the world of aerospace, few stories have captured Wall Street’s attention in 2025 quite like Boeing’s remarkable resurgence. From the depths of crisis just a few years ago, Boeing (NYSE: BA) has staged an extraordinary comeback, marked by surging stock prices, headline-making aircraft deals, and a critical regulatory turning point. As of September 26, 2025, Boeing shares closed at $221.26—a price that reflects not only a +3.6% jump on the day but an eye-catching 46% rally over the past year, far outpacing the S&P 500’s 15% rise (Investing.com, Reuters).

FAA Restores Certification Rights: A Pivotal Moment for Boeing

For investors and industry insiders alike, the single most significant news came from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). More than six years after the tragic 737 MAX crashes, which led to the loss of 346 lives and a regulatory clampdown, the FAA announced it would partially restore Boeing’s authority to certify 737 MAX and 787 Dreamliner aircraft. Starting September 29, 2025, Boeing and the FAA will alternate weekly in issuing airworthiness certificates—a move widely interpreted as a vote of confidence in Boeing’s recent production quality improvements (Manufacturing.net, FAA).

This change is not just symbolic. Since 2019, Boeing had lost the right to self-certify its jets, with the FAA taking direct control over approvals. The new arrangement frees up more FAA inspectors to focus on rigorous checks along Boeing’s production lines, while signaling to airlines and investors that the company is regaining trust with regulators. Unsurprisingly, Boeing’s stock surged nearly 5% on the day the news broke.

Major Orders Spark Optimism—But Competition Remains Fierce

Boeing’s rally has not been fueled by regulatory relief alone. The company has landed some of its biggest commercial orders in recent memory:

• Uzbekistan Airways committed to buying up to 22 787 Dreamliners, a deal valued at around $8.5 billion and touted by U.S. officials as supporting tens of thousands of jobs.
• Turkish Airlines placed a firm order for 75 787s—the carrier’s largest-ever widebody purchase—and signaled its intent to buy up to 150 more 737 MAX jets, a potential windfall for Boeing’s flagship narrowbody program.
• Boeing is reportedly in advanced talks to sell as many as 500 new aircraft to China, a breakthrough that could mark the reopening of a massive market long chilled by U.S.-China trade tensions (Reuters).
• Norwegian Group, operator of Norwegian Air Shuttle and Widerøe, added an order for 30 Boeing 737 MAX 8 planes.

These deals have helped push Boeing’s total backlog to a staggering $619 billion, covering about 5,900 aircraft. Deliveries are on the rise too: by August 2025, Boeing had delivered 385 jets—already surpassing its total for all of 2024. Production of the 737 MAX has ramped up to 38 per month, the FAA’s current cap, while 787 Dreamliner output recently increased to 7 jets monthly as supply chain bottlenecks begin to ease.

Yet, the competitive landscape is as challenging as ever. Airbus, Boeing’s European rival, delivered 434 jets by August and aims for 820 deliveries in 2025. Airbus faces its own struggles with engine supply, but its grip on the narrowbody market remains strong. Meanwhile, in defense, Boeing’s contracts for fighters, tankers, and satellites must contend with the likes of Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Raytheon—each vying for lucrative government deals.

Financials: Recovery in Progress but Not Yet Complete

Boeing’s latest financials tell a story of resilience, but also ongoing challenges. In the second quarter of 2025, revenue jumped to $22.75 billion, up 35% year-over-year. Losses have narrowed significantly, with a GAAP net loss of $612 million (versus $1.44 billion a year earlier). Most encouraging for investors, operating cash flow turned positive, and Boeing’s commercial airplanes unit swung to a small operating profit.

Traditional valuation metrics like the price-to-earnings ratio remain distorted, as trailing EPS is deeply negative. Boeing still carries about $60 billion in debt, a legacy of past crises. However, the market is betting on cash flow and backlog as the company’s path forward. Analysts tracked by MarketBeat and StockAnalysis.com rate the stock a “Moderate Buy,” with 21 out of 26 analysts recommending purchase and consensus 12-month price targets in the $230–$234 range. This suggests modest upside from current levels, as much of Boeing’s recent progress may already be reflected in its valuation.

Labor Disputes and Regulatory Headwinds: Not Out of the Woods Yet

Behind the headlines, Boeing continues to wrestle with real-world obstacles. A machinists’ strike at its St. Louis defense plant passed the nine-week mark in late September, though analysts believe the impact on Boeing’s bottom line is limited. Negotiations, aided by a federal mediator, may soon bring resolution.

Regulatory scrutiny also remains intense. The FAA’s recent move to restore certification powers is conditional: Boeing and the FAA will alternate weekly checks, and any request to boost production rates will trigger extensive new reviews. Safety culture is still under the microscope; the FAA recently proposed $3.1 million in fines for alleged safety lapses, including the high-profile Alaska Airlines 737 MAX incident in January 2024.

Meanwhile, Boeing settled a whistleblower-linked wrongful-death lawsuit—paying a modest $50,000—highlighting the lingering legal and reputational risks from years of turmoil. The company is also under a Deferred Prosecution Agreement with the Department of Justice, so compliance and transparency remain non-negotiable priorities.

Outlook: A New Chapter, but Unanswered Questions Remain

Looking ahead, Boeing’s immediate focus is clear: ramp up production within FAA-imposed limits, resolve labor disputes, and maintain the momentum of new orders. The company expects to reach break-even cash flow by year-end and potentially return to profitability in 2026. Analysts forecast flat-to-modest losses for 2025, but see a path to positive earnings as demand for new aircraft remains robust and backlogs provide revenue visibility.

Longer term, Boeing’s fortunes hinge on more than just numbers. Airline demand cycles, geopolitical shifts, environmental regulations, and the ever-present rivalry with Airbus all loom large. Supply chain hiccups, though easing, still pose risks, as do any further regulatory or safety setbacks. Yet, the sheer scale of recent orders and the restoration of regulatory trust suggest Boeing is turning a corner.

Boeing’s comeback is as much about regaining trust as it is about filling order books. The FAA’s cautious green light, coupled with a string of blockbuster deals, offers real hope for sustained recovery. But with competition fierce and scrutiny intense, Boeing’s next flight path will demand flawless execution—every step of the way.